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CUPHRIGHT DEPOSm 



THE GATES OF JANUS 

An Epic Story of the World War 




THE BATTLEFIELDS OF THE SOMME AND HINDENBURG LINE. 

(See pages 118-124; 179-182.) 

Insert: The Lys Salient. (See page 179.) 



THE GATES OF JANUS 



An Epic Story of the World War 



By 
WILLIAM CARTER, D.D., Ph.D. 




New York Chicago 

Fleming H. Revell Company 

London and Edinburgh 



Copyright, 1919, by 
FLEMING H. REVELL CpMPANY 



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Prinied in United States of America 



OCI 29i8i9 



New York : 158 Fifth Avenue 
Chicago : 17 North Wabash Ave. 
London : 21 Paternoster Square 
Edinburgh : 75 Princes Street 



©CU535517 



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-^ 

5 



DEDICATED 

To My Wife 

ALICE KELLOGG CARTER 

Who, for twenty-Jive years, has been a help and 

inspiration to me in my public 

life and service 



FOREWORD 

IN sending out this: ''Epic Story of the 
World War/' the writer feels there are 
some things which need explanation, lest 
the work be thought presumptuous, on the part 
of a comparatively unknown author. 

First : The author has felt that the Epic form 
of poetry, so long unused, is most admirably 
fitted for the narration of such a War as this, — 
greater than any in all the world's annals, 
rightly called: "The Great World War!" With 
such a theme as this there is surely every reason 
for some one to try to revive this ancient form 
again, as he strives to give adequate expression 
to the recounting of the heroic deeds of such a 
strife, which involves thirty-six nations, over 
ninety per cent of the world's population, and 
concerns, not only the welfare of humanity, but, 
the very civilization of the world. 

Second: He feels that, by such a form, the 
main events of the War will be better remem- 
bered by the people at large, better impressed, 
by them, upon their children, now, aijd better 
retold to other children afterward. 

Third : Since this form has not been used be- 
fore, in the retelling of our modern Wars, he has 
felt, — though woefully inadequate to the task, — 
that he should endeavor, himself, thus, to revive 
7 



8 FOREWORD 

this ancient plan and give a basis for others to 
accomplish the task still better, that we may 
have, at last, material which shall become a 
thesaurus of modern folklore, to stimulate the 
patriotic impulses of our children and their 
children's children. 

The author realizes, more than any one else, 
the deficiencies of the work, and his inadequacy 
for the task, but he gives the above as the 
apology for his presumption, hoping that others 
will follow, along these lines, and leave some 
truly monumental testimony of the deeds of 
these brave men who have fought and bled and 
died, for humanity and civilization, in this great 
War, 

Though he has tried to be as accurate and 
chronological in the work, as the limits of poetic 
composition will permit, he realizes that there 
must be a number of inaccuracies, in regard to the 
descriptions of the battles and the units engaged, 
as he has only been able to gather the data for 
these things from fugitive volumes on the War, 
newspaper and magazine accounts and the testi- 
mony of those returning from the Front, 
together with such pamphlets and facts as have 
been sent out, from time to time, by the various 
Allies. He will therefore, be glad for all correc- 
tions, so that, if a subsequent Edition should be 
issued, the necessary revisions may be made. 

No explanation, v/e take it, is necessary con- 
cerning the use of the ''Machinery'' (so called 



FOREWORD 9 

by the Ancients) of the War Dogs and the 
Furies, as such ''Machinery" has always been 
deemed a necessary part of Epic composition 
and the use of the Dogs of War and the Furies 
seemed most apposite in the development of such 
a theme. 

One other word, he would add here, and that 
is : that this whole work has been written while 
the Y>^ar has been actually going on, and, that 
it was his intention to send it out, first, in in- 
complete form, as a War Phillipic and after- 
ward issue another Edition, bringing the story 
up to the end of the conflict. With this end in 
view, the work was brought to a close with the 
Victory of St. Mihiel, and was ready for the 
Press, but, with the rush of events, immediately 
following, the closing pages were added, as the 
author saw the end was near and the fulfillment 
of the theme of the book, as given in the third 
and fourth verses of the poem, imminent. 

With this idea, then, of a War Phillipic, as 
well as a War History, before him, he has used 
the present tense, largely, throughout the book, 
with all of its invective directed against a foe 
we were still fighting. Though the Armistice 
has now been signed and the War is over, he 
sends out the work in its original form, as a 
testimony not only to the determination of the 
Allies to win the final victory, but as a testimony 
against the atrocity and fiendishness with which 
the War has been prosecuted by our enemies, 



10 FOREWORD 

according to the actual knowledge of tlie people 
of these present times. 

"With such present day testimonies against 
her, Germany cannot say in the future that 
historians were mistaken as to their facts. These 
are things which the world knows now; has seen, 
has felt! "We are still in the midst of them! — 
still seeing, still feeling them! Let such, then, 
be the witness against Germany and the Central 
Powers, and let us hope that such arraignment 
may prove the alembic whereby they may be 
purified and led to reconstruct their hearts, as 
well as their nations, in the days to come. 

Trusting that the work may accomplish, in 
some small way, the purposes for which it is 
written, it is sent out for the public's use and 
approval, and, — ^to the glory of the Allied arms I 

William Carter. 

Throop Avenue Fresl)yterian Chiirch, 
Brooklyn, N. Y. 



CONTENTS 

Book I. 

1. The Dogs of War and the Furies 15 

2. The Pretext for War 17 

3. The Attack 19 

4. The Methods of the Furies, 23 

5. The Kaiser 's Forgetf ulness 25 

6. The Kaiser and His Council 29 

Book II. 

1. The Eape of Belgium 31 

2. The Eetreat from Mons 36 

3. * 'Back to the Marne! " 40 

4. The First Battle of the Marne 43 

5. The Battle of the Aisne 46 

6. The Fall of Antwerp and Battle of Flanders 49 

7. The First and Second Battle of Ypres 51 

8. The Battle of Heligoland 54 

9. The * ' Emden ' ' and Falkland Islands * Fights 56 
.0. The Capture of Kiau-chau 58 

Book III. 

1. The Russian Victories on the Eastern Front 61 

2. The Devastation of Poland 64 

3. Italy Enters the War 65 

4. Bulgaria, Roumania and Greece to the Fore 69 

Book IV. 

1. The Council of the Furies 73 

2. The Murder of Armenia 77 

3. The Italian Retreat to the Piave 79 

4. The Russian Debacle 81 

5. The Defeat at Gallipoli 83 

6. British Victories in Arabia and the Holy 

Land 90 

11 



12 CONTENTS 



Book V. 



1. Back to the Western Front , 95 

2. The Battle of Dogger Bank 96 

3. The Establishment of ''War Zones'* at Sea 97 

4. The Sinking of the Lusitania 99 

5. The Deadlock in the West 101 

6. The Murder of Edith Cavell 103 

7. The Capture of the German Colonies 104 

8. Vale! Sir John French! Ave! Sir Douglas 

Haig! 106 

Book VI. 

1. The Siege of Verdun 109 

2. The First and Second Battle of the Somme 118 

3. The Battle of Jutland 127 

4. The Death of Lord Kitchener 133 

Book VII. 

1. America Aroused! 135 

2. America Declares War ! 141 

3. World and War Changes 145 

4. The Catalogue of the Nations at War 147 

Book VIII. 

1. The Furies' Council with their Patrons ... 153 

2. Second Eetreat to the Marne 157 

3. The Second Battle of the Marne 159 

(A) Chateau Thierry 161 

(B) Continuation of Main Battle 163 

(G) The Battle of Belleau Wood 167 

(D) Continuation of Main Battle 171 

(E) ' ' The Fighting Sixty Ninth ! ' ' 173 

(F) Continuation of Main Battle 175 



CONTENTS 13 

Book IX. 

1. The Third Battle of the Somme 179 

2. The Victory of St. Mihiel 183 

3. The Gains of St. Mihiel 187 

4. ^'On to BerUn!" 189 

Book X. 

1. The Austrian Peace Note and Bulgaria's 

Surrender 191 

2. The Battle of Armageddon 194 

3. The Forces Engaged 202 

4. Eussia and the Czechoslovaks 207 

Book XI. 

1. Fresh Victories on the Western Front, 211 

2. The Eesurrection of Belgium 215 

3. The ^' Peace" Council of the Furies 217 

Book XII. 

1. The ' 'Battle of the Peace Notes'^ 227 

2. More Victories for the Allies 229 

3. The Last Council 231 

4. Fate 's Final Decree 237 



MAPS AND BATTLE FIELD OUTLINES. 

By W. Eenwick Taylor. Opposite 

1. The Battlefields of the Somme (Frontispiece) Page 

2. The Siege of Gallipoli 86 

3. The Siege of Verdun 108 

4. The Second Battle of The Marne 160 

5. The Deadly Triangle at St. Mihiel 184 

6. The Final * 'Victory Drive'* 212 



THE GATES OF JANUS 

BOOK I. 

1. THE DOGS OF WAR AND THE FURIES 

By Tiber's flood, there stands a temple grim, 
Flanked by two gates ; enclosing, gaunt, witbin, 
The Dogs of War, fed by ten Furies dread, 
WhO' fain would fatten them upon the dead. 

The gates hold back the dogs; the Furies, — 
held 
By Power beyond their own, — ^their clamor weld 
In one deep diapason of mad sound. 
Then claw the gates and scrabble up the ground. 

'Tis of these Furies' wrath, Muse, I'd 

sing,— 
Of our World War, black Fate's most potent 

Spring,— 
As they enrage mankind his power to vent, 
And blast the earth with direfuUest intent. 

And, of the War Dogs, I would also tell ; 
What transformation in them there befel, 
As they bring Peace from out grim War's red 

train, 
A League of Nations see, with Furies slain. 
15 



16 THE GATES OF JANUS 

These Furies are; Rage, Hate, and Malice 
black ; 
Pride, Envy, Lust,— the blackest of the pack !— 
Lies, Bitterness and Rapine that destroy, 
And Cruelty, — ^that Nemesis of Joy ! 

The Dogs, that need our mention, are just ten : 
A Boarhound, raging madly Vound the den ; 
A Grey -hound, lithe and keen, a Mastiff bold, 
A Bull-dog, fierce to fight and strong to hold ; 

A Wolf-hound, white of breast — with ochre 
heart, 
A St. Bernard, that hesitates to start ; 
A ' ' Dog of Flanders, ' ' used to blows and shame. 
An Austrian Beagle, not unknown to fame. 

Beside these stood two others, gaunt and grim : 
A Blood-Hound, set for bloodier nation 's whim ; 
A black Pariah-Dog that, — worst of all, — 
Battens on death, hy StambouPs ancient Wall. 

Ten Dogs, ten Furies ; thus my list 's complete ; 
All set for War and, now, all scorning Peace ; 
The Furies worst, — the Dogs, by them, compelled 
To break their leashes, which the Years have 
held. 



AN EPIC STORY OF THE WORLD WAR 17 

Still others I miglit mention in these lists, — 
As Homer catalogued his fleet of ships, — 
Such Furies as Suspicion and black Woe ; 
Serb Watch-Dogs also, who, first warned of foe. 

But I have named enough to set the scene 
Of that which is, and that which might have 

been, 
And so, Muse, help me the tale to tell 
Of that which plunged our World in blackest 

hell! 

2. THE PRETEXT FOR WAR 

Nineteen-Fourteen its course had scare half 
run. 
When, from famed Sarajevo's crime, there 

sprung 
Suspicion, — grisly spectre, — soon to ope 
The Janian gates and Furies' power evoke. 

War does not feed on Force, it feeds on 
Doubt, — 
Doubt of another's heart, that puts to rout 
Faith, confidence and mutual trust sublime, 
That should bind men together for all time. 

That shot in Sarajevo's streets that day, 
Fired by the madman Princip, helped to slay 
Not Austria's heir alone, but also Trust, — 
In men and nations, — Truth and all things just. 

2 



18 THE GATES OF JANUS 

Sowing black Doubt, on swiftest wings, he 
came 
To Serbia, Belgium and, across the main, 
To England, almoner of nations brave, 
Who willingly adventures all to save. 

Now^ Discord from Suspicion springs assured ; 
Such dragon's teeth great harvest soon procured. 
As men spring up, like grass, on every hand. 
Ready to dare and die for their loved land. 

The work is done ! The grisly spectre leaves 
Thrones, forums, palaces, and takes the keys. 
From out his girdle dark, that shall unbar 
The Janian gates and loose the Dogs of War. 

The key is turned within the rusted ward, 
Each bolt and massy barrier is unbarred ; 
The Dogs rush out, — each leash is broken 

through. 
The Furies ''Havoc!" cry, — and follow too. 

Now World, beware! The fiends of Hell are 

loose, 
To thee entangle in the dreadful noose 
Of War's red horrors! 'Ware not the Dogs so 

much, 
As maddened Furies! 'Ware their bloody 

clutch ! 



AN EPIC STORY OF THE WORLD WAR 19 
3. THE ATTACK. 

And whither are they bound? Muse, now 

tell: 
Each Dog, to his own home he knew so well ; 
The Furies, — ^first to Serbia, as the field 
Where they can plots mature, 'gainst world to 

wield. 

And why to Serbia? Because here they've 
found, 
Souls fecund for their seed, — a fertile ground 
For passion ! Here Austria they have found be- 
fore 
Plotting to take, from Serb, new lands by War. 

She's taken Bosnia. Ah, most foolish act! 
'Tis in its capital she's first attacked, 
Through Sarajevo's deed! — ^by Bosnians 

planned. 
Who, — subjects new, — ^had feared her tyrant 
hand. 

Now she, through Serbia, desires a way 
To a seaport on Salonica's bay. 
She uses Bosnia's deed as a pretext; 
Claims Serbia planned it! She must be re- 
dressed ! 



20 THE GATES OF JANUS 

How can another nation guilty be 
For thine own subjects deeds ? done against thee 
In thine own land ? No Serbian struck the blow 
That killed the Crown Prince, — brought on this 
world woe ! 

And, if this awful deed were foul enough 
To make thee, 'gainst the Serb, so ruthless,— 

rough. 
For wrong he never did ! — "Why did 'st thou not, 
The murderers punish more, who wrought the 

plot? 

Princip, who fired the shot, — Gabrinovic, 
"Who threw the bomb, — ^thou did 'st not then con- 
vict 
And order slain ! Them thou did 'st but intern, 
In prison walls, for twenty years' brief term ! 

Ah, crafty Austrian! "We know well thy 
mind! 
The Furies know it also ! Thou'rt their kind ! 
They've promised thee their aid thy ends to gain. 
They'll rouse thy people, — all their hate inflame ! 

Thou 'It get thy "War! Alas, that's sure in- 
deed I — 
But not thy seaport, though it thou dost need. 
Thou 'It Retribution get, both just and fit, — 
Hoist on thine own petard I— The Biter, bit ! 



AN EPIC STORY OF THE WORLD WAR 21 

The Beagle now has roused a nation wild ; 
The Furies lashed their passions, and reviled 
The weak and timorous! Then all joined the 

fray 
And outraged Serbia sees a bloody day ! 

T>owD. comes the Austrian, past both watch and 
ward I 
Down the blue Danube, comes another horde ! 
Belgrade is ravaged, from both flood and land. 
The Furies war ! But still brave men withstand ! 

At Battle of the Jadar they repel 
The Austrian host ! Six thousand of them fell 
Before brave Gen'ral Putnik's Serb command! 
They're driven out from Serbia's loyal land! 

The Serb, now Austria, bravely does invade. 
He captures Semlin, across from Belgrade! 
Though Belgrade at last falls, — ^to Gen'ral 

Frank, — 
Serbia's not conquered! She fights, rank on 

rank ! 

At Ushitza and Yalievo's fight, 
They twenty thousand pris'ners take with might ! 
They take Belgrade again, the foe they foil ! 
There 's not an Austrian left on Serbian soil ! 



22 THE GATES OF JANUS 

Have ye then thought that little Serbia's 
weak ? 
She could have held the Austrian, — ^him de- 
feat I— 
Save for the aid the Prussians sent amain, 
She would have conquered both on hill and 
plain ! 

Brave Serbia ! We give glory unto thee ! 
Thou mighty art in fight, — bold as the free ! 
Alas, that thou must fall ! Alas, the Hun 
Should come and take from thee all thou hast 
won! 

The end is sure ! But ah, that note has gone, — 
As Serbian Watch-Dogs their loud cries pro- 
long,— 
Far from the Balkan hills, to Russian ground, 
To France and England, all by treaty bound. 

Belgrade has fallen, but the world is up ! 
More than these nations now the question put : 
^ ' Shall weaker nations suffer from the strong ? 
** Because they're weak, shall they endure all 
v/rong ? ' ' 

The answer will not long forth-coming be. 
The world will soon decide the right to see 
Triumphant over wrong ! Then Austria fear ! 
Serbia shall be avenged ! Thy end is near ! 



AN EPIC STORY OF THE WORLD WAR 23 
4. THE METHODS OF THE FURIES. 

Look now at rest of all that War-Dog band ! 
Swift as the arrow flies, each seeks his land, 
To rouse his nation to defence from War ! 
But mark, the Furies, now, are on before! 

How strange it is that Right is always slow ! 
That Wrong can, onward, ever faster go ! 
Yet 'tis the story of Tortoise and Hare : 
*'Last shall be first!'' Yes, that's true every- 
where ! 

So, though the Furies, now, the vanguard lead, 
They will not always ! — for it's been decreed : 
That they shall all be driven out, or slain ! 
Yet mark how, now^, they o 'er all others gain ! 

Let Doubt sow his black seed, — Suspicion ope 
The brazen gates of War, for man to cope 
With Discord! — ^Yet still his task is safe and 

plain, 
If Fury outstrip not all War's red train. 

But, swift as be the War-Dogs ' headlong flight, 
The Furies have o'er-reaehed them and their 

might 
It is, that makes War's ruin so accurst ; — 
Makes men forget the best, and love the worst ! 



24 THE GATES OF JANUS 

Blame not the War-Dogs then, they 'd peaceful 
be, 
Save for these Furies, that ere stir the sea 
Of man 's black passions foul, — and urge him on 
To deeds of butchery and lust and wrong. 

They feed the Dogs of War, — or famish them, 
Until they think they'll make them feed on men ! 
Yet, when these break the thongs that hold them 

back, 
'Tis but to warn man of a worse attack ! 

No dog is wild, until by fury made ; 
Nor man, 'til fury makes of him a grave 
Of all his nobler purpose, and calls out 
That lust of vengeance that puts good to rout. 

A bull-dog fierce, is fiercest but to guard ! 
A mastiff huge, may be the children 's ward ! 
A boar-hound grim and gaunt, — ^with low 'ring 

mien, — 
May be a household pet, safe and serene ! 

But, let the Furies 'rouse them howso'er, 
And this is then, as though it never were ! 
The boar-hound, snarling, springs and shows his 

fangs; 
The bull-dog and the mastiff break all bands. 



AN EPIC STORY OF THE WORLD WAR 25 

Blame then the Furies, with their passions 
dread ; 
The Dogs are Guardians, — hy these others led 
To deeds of blood ! Their wish, — to 'rouse man- 
kind. 
To fight 'gainst those most led by Fury blind ! 

So, from their Nations, now, these Dogs of 

War 
Call forth their masters, — from both near and 

far, — 
To join themselves, in coalition strong. 
Against the most infuriate of their throng. 

5. THE KAISER'S FORGETFULNESS. 

Just as the mild and gentle, — made insane, — 
Rage, fight and threaten, with unbridled rein, 
Against the ones who most have helped their 

lives, — 
So now the helped against the helper flies ! 

The Boar-hound fierce, now bares his snarling 
fangs ; 
The Furies lash him through his 'fed 'rate lands ! 
They 'rouse his masters to like fury blind ; — 
Make them forget their debt to human-kind. 



26 THE GATES OF JANUS 

Ah, Germany ! Thy memory is brief, 
Of all thou owest to the nations, — chief 
In this great War ! — To Italy and France ; 
To England 's and America 's advance ! 

Where wast thou, when America was born ? 
Where when, from France, thou asked Arts to 

adorn ? 
Wliere when, from Italy, thou learned to sing. 
And asked, — of England's Commerce, — how to 

win? 

Thou, then, wast sunk in ignorance most black, 
Of Arts and Sciences thou knew'st thy lack. 
Of Music, Commerce and Invention 's sway, 
Thy night was lighted with but feeble ray ! 

When Frederick the Great piped on a flute, 
'Twas but an echo of Italian lute, — 
That long had charmed the world with music 

sweet, 
And made it debtor for heart's quickened beat. 

When that same monarch longed to know the 

ways 
Of Wisdom, and her greater length of days. 
It was to France he turned and, from her schools, 
Called Voltaire to his Court, — to teach these 

rules. 



AN EPIC STORY OF THE WORLD WAR 27 

When thoti would 'st learn, of Commerce, her 
success. 
To England thou did'st turn and did'st con- 
fess, 
By that one act, — thou knew'st not how to cope 
With Commerce's ways, — until old England 
spoke ! 

While the great Frederick idly played his 
pipes, 
America was showing thee the rites, — 
In their beginnings, — of Invention 's way, 
That thou art using now to "save" thy *'Day." 

Then, was the deadly submarine first made. 
Thou now dost use in foulest pirate raid. 
Its gift was ours, as most, that now, — accursed ! — 
ThouVt using, not to do the best, but worst! 

Who taught thee how to drive, with steam, thy 
keel 
Through turbid seas ? Build battleships of steel ? 
Talk, telegraph through sundered miles of space ? 
Build thy barbed wire entanglements apace ? 

Who taught thee how to sail the ambient air ? 
Turn lightning 's horror into uses rare ? — 
Imprison Music ? — the Camp 's joy supreme ! — 
Bring death to life upon a lighted screen ? 



28 THE GATES OF JANUS 

Who taught thee how to give a mightier power 
To powder, shot and shell in War 's dread hour ? 
To multiply the single shotted gun 
To *' Sprays of Death," by which the fight is 
won? 

Hast thou forgot all this, Teuton vain ? 
Hast thou forgot from whom thy power to reign, 
In Commerce, Art; — in Peace and War, — wa^ 

giv'n? 
Or art thou lost to shame, — as well as Heav'n? 

Down on thy knees, thou better had'st been 

found, 
Thanking thy brethren, — unto whom thou'rt 

bound 
By ties like these ;— than turning such awards 
Into new forms of national discords ! 

The Hun and Savage both can imitate. 
But cannot grasp the deeper meaning great 
Of the world 's progress and of friendship 's way. 
That draws, — by helping! — from mankind its 
pay! 

So, savage Hun ! — ^the world was not surprised, 
When these mad Furies made thee envious eyed ; 
Filled thee with hatred at the world 's advance, 
And made thee east the die for War's dread 
chance. 



AN EPIC STORY OF THE WORLD WAR 29 
6. THE KAISER AND HIS COUNCIL. 

The Serbian Watch-Dogs had but given the 

note 
Of warning to the world, — of that fell stroke 
That was to come. The Boar-hound, grim and 

vast, 
Now, sounds the tocsin of red War's full blast! 

Yet, grim and vast and fierce, howe'er he be, 
The Furies, vaster, fiercer far than he, — 
Have here outstripped him, and made this their 

goal : — 
To turn a Nation mad, — and steal its soul ! 

Before the Emp'ror of Germania's lands 
They stand, and Hate presents, — ^with Rage, — 

their plans. 
Envy and Malice, Bitterness and Pride 
Urge Cruelty and Rapine, Lust and Lies. 

The Emp 'ror listens and his choler grows, 
To Hell, with curses black, consigns his foes. 
Summons his cohorts and, with counsel stern. 
Bids them go forth, slay, mutilate and bum. 



it 



As Attila, the Hun, did terror spread, 
So spread ye terror, with its mounds of dead. 
' ' Murder the widows, ravish all the maids, 
'* Fling children screaming into death's dark 
shades ! 



30 THE GATES OF JANUS 

''Make beauteous cities as vast heaps of stones; 
* ' Stay not to listen to the people 's groans, 
' ' As fane and temple ye, with shot and fire, 
' ' Hurl down in ruin to attest my ire ! 

' ' And, since my Navy cannot now withstand 
' ' The power of our main foe, let U-Boats land 
''The fatal shot, — from lurking depths be- 
neath, — 
' ' And make all fear our modem pirate chief ! 

' ' Send out aerial Navies, that shall rend 
"The Heavens mth falling death, on foe and 

friend. 
"Spare not unguarded towns nor Red Cross 

signs, — 
"Kill well and wounded! Leave no trace be- 
hind! 



"Ye chemists! Make your poison gases foul! 
'Spray forth your liquid fires!— and let the 

howl 
' Of living bonfires cheer ye, — as they run 
'From the dread hate and fury of the Hun!" 



He said: and forth, in serried pride and 

might. 
They went to do his bidding, black as night, — 
With their fell thoughts, desires and murderous 

plans ! 
They vow destruction on all hated lands ! 



BOOK 11. 

1. THE RAPE OF BELGIUM. 

And where, think ye, these braggarts went 
amain ? 
Not thence, to where some powerful, warlike 

train 
Could meet their force ! but unto Belgium small. 
By treaties guarded from the power of all ! 

What is a treaty to a brigand bold ? 
'*A scrap of paper!" — made to break, not hold! 
**A bond for weaklings!" — not for warriors 

dread ! 
Tear up the paper and pile up the dead ! 

Thus, arrogantly, thought the haughty Hun, 
And soon his dev'lish thought and deed were 

done I — 
Save that the "Dog of Flanders" did awake 
That Nation, brave, to all that was at stake ! 

'Tis now the War Dog's transformation starts. 
No longer will he play those awful parts 
Of ravager and beast of prey, — to stun 
The world with horror as the fight's begun ! 
31 



32 THE GATES OF JANUS 

Let these grim deeds the Furies, f onl, evoke ! 
He's set to rid the world of War's fell stroke! 
By rousing all, to war on War, he'll kill,— 
Not it's power only, but the Furies ill! 

He cries aloud! His voice goes through the 
land, 
And summons every noble, patriot band, 
To fight, — that War may be forever crushed. 
And its base champion levelled with the dust ! 

They answered! Not in vain that cry was 
heard ! 
From every town and hamlet, freemen surge, 
To take up arms, against this bloody beast. 
And battle 'gainst him 'til all war has ceased. 

They realized how much black Hat© would do ; 
Knew they must suffer, — aye, be tortured too ! 
Yet, rather than let land and freedom go, 
They dared all ! Stood most bravely 'gainst the 
foe! 

How bravely did they fight! What horrors 
fell 
On their devoted heads ! What fiends of Hell 
Were loosed on Belgium ! — set to bear the stroke 
Of all the power that Hate and Hell invoke ! 



AN EPIC STORY OF THE WORLD WAR 33 

At Aersehot ! at Malines ! — what fury loosed 
The sheeted flame, the shotted gion! — ^that 

brooked 
Not age, nor sex to stay their purpose dread ! 
Men, women, cMldren, fell in mounds of dead ! 

Louvain, where stood that Lib'ry vast and 
grand, — 
Few vaster, better, stood in any land, — ' 
They overthrew, — and heaped in one great pyre, 
Men, books and babies ! — then set all afire ! 

Tongres, Termonde, Herve, Battice, Molen- 
stede, — 
And scores of other towns, — saw carnage red ; 
Children dismembered! Women outraged, 

slain ! 
Men crucified ! — embowelled ! — fed to flame ! 

Mad Torquemada, with his monkish hood, 
The Duke of Alva, with his ''Court of Blood," 
And ''Bloody Claverhouse, " who Scotland 

scourged, 
Ne'er did, nor thougJit such deeds as these we've 
heard ! 

What devil prompted thee, thou Prussian 
beast ! — 
To glut thy hellish rage with such foul feast ? 
Did'st thou not know thou'dst raise the wrath of 

men 
To punish thee, though helped by Furies ten ? 
3 



34 THE GATES OF JANUS 

Think 'st tlion that men forget such horrors 

black? 
That they forget to pity? That they lack 
Compassion? Nay! for these damned acts of 

thine, 
They'll scourge thee! Punish thee throughout 

all time! 

Thou did'st arouse a demon then, false hound! 
By these base deeds. War's wrath is all un- 
bound, — 
And. hurled on thee, — as Allies brave arise. 
And rush to aid, — e'er bleeding Belgium dies! 

'Twas thus, England immediately was 'roused ! 
France, also, now, brave Belgium's cause 

espoused ! 
And Belgium, — ^heartened by this promised 

aid, — 
Waged still the War, — ^her own loved land to 

save! 

Liege! Namur — with vigor bold and brave, — 
For three weeks held the Him at bay, and made 
It possible, for Bull-dog and Grey-hound, 
To warn France, — England, — soon for Belgium 
bound ! 



AN EPIC STORY OF THE WORLD WAR 35 

In time they came ! And now great deeds are 

done, 
At Mons and Charleroi, against tlie Hnn, — 
By French and English, joined in battle strong, 
To crush the Prussian and right Belgium's 

wrong. 

They conquered not! — but ah! they stemmed 

the tide ! 
Turned back the Hun, — and humbled Prussian 

pride ! 
Saved not the whole of Belgium, — ^but a part ! 
Gave courage to the people and fresh heart ! 

And are the thanks, then, due these Allies 

brave ? 
Nay ! but the Belgium, whom they came to save ! 
For Belgium, — small and scorned by Prussian 

power, — 
Saved the world's honor, — in her dreadful hour! 

Had Belgium yielded to the Hun's demand, 
Or faltered, paltered in heroic stand. 
Against those hellish hordes ! — all had been lost ! 
Paris had fallen ! — The world paid the cost ! 

It was at Mons *'The Comrade in White'' 

came, 
Not more to strengthen English than, — amain, — 
To show the world that Christ, m Flanders, 

lived ! 
And suffered there, — true liberty to give ! 



36 THE GATES OF JANUS 

Ah, little Belgium,! Though on thee was 
pressed 
The crown of thorns! — Thou art by this con- 
fessed, 
Another Saviour of the human race ! — 
And in the world's he^rt thou hast highest place ! 

Aye, Belgium ! We will e 'er remember thee, 
As one who has been crucified ! — to free 
The world, from infamy and lust and wrong ! 
Though weak, God made thee Saviour from the 
strong ! 

And, when, in distant times, thy deeds are 

told, 
Men hearts will still be stirred, and they'll too 

hold 
Thy name in holiest reverence ! — thee adore ! 
God bless thee, little Belgium, — evermore ! 

2. THE RETREAT FROM MONS. 

Now to French, English, we attention turn, 
As they fight nobly on, with vigor firm, 
At Mons and Charieroi. Though both's defeat, 
Each gains more glory in well fought retreat. 

Look how the English, under Gen'ral French, 
Are lab 'ring hard, — "mid death and toils im- 
mense. 
At Mons ! North of Maubeuge and West of Lille, 
Two corps, alone, are stretched across wide field. 



AN EPIC STORY OF THE WORLD WAR 37 

Haig leads the first, Smith-Dorrien the next; 
French, with such leaders, oft the foe perplexed. 
Von Kluck tries to break through and turn their 

flank ; 
He 's foiled, by plucky British, rank on rank ! 

It was that ''thin red line'' that's done so 
much, — 
On many a field of honor, — wrong to clutch 
In grip of death I But here the foe 's too strong, 
The force too scattered to resist for long. 

Yet see! They fight on! Nothwithstanding 
all! 
For two days they hold Mons, — ^while thousands 

fall! 
Then back to Cambrai ! Cateau ! Landrecies ! 
Each place a fight for Eight and Liberty ! 

Have ye heard much of that Retreat from 
Mons? 
It was as grand as Vict 'ry ! and belongs 
On Hist'ry's highest page! To brightest shine, 
It should be written down in golden line ! 

As Xenophen, in his Anabasis, ' 

The might of Persian arms could not resist. 
But, in ''Retreat of the Ten Thousand" men, 
Won greater glory o'er his foes again; 



38 THE GATES OF JANUS 

And, as, in that Retreat, lie learned the way 
Of Persian warfare, — where their weakness 

lay,— 
And taught the Greeks where they could next ad- 
vance 
And final viet'ry win o'er Persian lance; 

So, now, in this ''Retreat from Mons," our 

men 
Learned where to best attack the foe again ; 
Learned of his weakness, — where to plant their 

strength, 
And win great vict'ry o'er the foe at length. 

Aye, and they won great fame ! Though heavy 

pressed. 
There was no rout! but they, — most often,— 

vexed 
Their foes with rallies, — ^brilliant, fresh aiid 

strong ! 
Defeated! Nay! They sang the Victor's song! 

And why ? Because they knew that they were 

right! 
Because they knew that their '^Comrade in 

White" 
Was with them ! That through Him they'd glory 

gain ! 
If not with living, — then among the slain I 



AN EPIC STORY OF THE WORLD WAR 39 

Six days they backward fell ! Six days they 

stood ! 
And ere they reached the Marne's protecting 

flood, 
Of seventy thousand British men last there, 
Full thirty thousand fell, or pris'ners were! 

Yet, count not this ** Retreat" War's awful 
loss. 
The Huns knew better! — as the line they cross. 
They were being led beyond the base they need, 
And to defeated, yet, they'll pay the reed! 

Ah, Mons! Great YictVy, in defeat, was 
thine ! 
Thy record high will last throughout all time ! 
And men will say, that, by such brave defence, 
Thou'st won more glory, at the foe's expense. 

And, thou, brave French! and, thou, Sir 
Douglas Haig ! 
And, thou, Smith-Dorrien !— and, men un- 
afraid ! — 
We hail ye Heroes ! — ^to whom fame belongs, 
For what ye did, in that "Retreat from Mons." 



40 THE GATES GF JANUS 

3. '^BACK TO THE MARNE!" 

Look, now, how Joffre, eomjnanding forces 
French, 
Orders retreat on all his line, — whose length 
Extends from Ardennes' woods to Marne's grim 

bank ; — 
They're now retreating only to advance! 

How quickly they had sprung their land to 
save. 
When first the wily Prussian stormed Liege ! — 
To battle his foul way, by War's advance ! 
Belgium 's not wanted ! It 's the heart of France ! 

Brave Lanrezae was sent to Belgium's land ; 
*' 'Tween Sambre and the Mouse he took his 

stand, — 
Near Namur. There to help the Belgians bold. 
And strive, fair France's frontier strong, to 

hold. 

Meanwhile five army corps, with Castelnau, 
Were sent to old Lorraine, where they could 

throw 
Their forces as support, upon the right, 
For Ruffy, — sent to Ardennes' woods for fight. 



AN EPIC STORY OF THE WORLD WAR 41 

They entered Lorraine, as old friends from 

home! 
The people welcomed them, — as those who roam 
Far from their hearthstone, — and desired to be 
Linked up again with France, their homeland 

free ! 

They took Delme, Morhange and grim Saar- 
burg strong, — 
Which they, alas, were not to hold for long ! 
The people liberated, sing and shout ! 
But, soon, the conquerors are driven out. 

And Dubail also, under Gen'ral Pau, 
Entered Alsace, and happy people show 
The dear French flag, once more, — in glorious 

pride ! 
But, here, the Victors do not long abide. 

Pau reached Colmar ; and, Mulhausen, Dubail. 
Then, quickly, on them, rushed the foe to slay. 
Back they are driven, far across the line. 
Their hope had been, — ^themselves, to cross the 
Rhine ! 

From Lorraine, also, Castelnau retires ; 
He takes his stsind at Nancy and there fires 
His troops with valor, — to resist Crown Prince 
And Heeringen. They yield! But, — inch by 
inch! 



43 THE GATES OF JANUS 

De Gary, Huffy, now must both retreat, 
From Ardennes' forest, where the foe, them, 

reach, — 
Under Duke Albert of Hun Wurttemberg ; 
They do such deeds as men have seldom heard ! 

In Belgium, — -Namur falls! Supporting 
French, 
Under Lanrezac, are driven back from thence. 
They stand at Charleroi, in two days fight, 
But must retreat, as support fails on right. 

Back to the Marne they, now, must all retire. 
Joffre orders it ! Men such retreat admire ! 
Slowly they move, harassing e'er the foe, — 
In solid, fighting ranks, they reach Marne 's flow ! 

The British meet them here ! Pressed by von 

Kluck, 
They battled stubbornly, with British pluck ! 
Now, stand they here, with Joffre, upon the 

Marne, 
Paris to save, from braggart Teuton's harm ! 

Back to the Marne though they'd been slowly 

driv 'n. 
No power could drive them farther back, — ^but 

Heav'n! 
There stood they firm, and, for their valiant 

stand. 
The world, exultant, raised applauding hand ! 



AN EPIC STORY OF THE WORLD WAR 43 

Retreat, yet not retreat ! Defeat, yet Victory ! 
Such will the world write it in History ! 
All praise ye. Heroes ! — ^your deeds oft repeat, 
As they tell thriilingly of Marne 's Retreat ! 

4. THE FIRST BATTLE OF THE MARNE. 

The War's been on a month! The Prussian 
boast, 
That they, in six weeks, would in Paris toast 
''Der Tag!" — to them, seems near fulfillment 

now! 
They almost feel the Victor's crown on brow! 

But two weeks more? Ah, foolish, prating 
Hun! 
Dost thou not know the battle 's but begun, — 
Which is for four long years, and more, to last? 
And, when it's finished! — then, thy ^'Day" is 
past! 

There is a band of men against thee now, 
That thou can'st never pass, for they've a vow, 
That they will break thee! Crush thee in the 

mire! 
Make thee surrender ! Baffle thy desire ! 

Look, how they're set thy plans to fell:— 
Joffre! Castelnau! Retain! Dubail! Nivelle! 
French! Haig! Smith-Dorrien ! — and, — of men, 

— the best 
Of France and England! — for this crowning 

test! 



4A THE GATES OF JANUS 

This is no ''thin red line," its broad and 

strong ! 
A million men, and more, scattered along 
This wide extending Front! Thy ''Day" will 

come, — 
But, not for Viet'ry — for Defeat, base Him! 

Mark, now, how Joffre his forces well deploys ; 
So well they're placed, each force Hun's hope al- 
loys! 
The French are on the right ; British hold left, 
While, Petain's centre, Prussia's forces cleft. 

Nor is this all : From Paris, soon, there come 
A hundred thousand more, to beat the Hun ! 
By famed Gallieni sent, — at Joffre's command. 
They flank von Kluck, as " Joffre the Great" had 
planned ! 

Now are the Prussians caught within a trap ! 
East, West and South, the foe doth o'er them 

lap! 
Petain^and English, — Paris forces fresh, — 
Push, drive and slay, or Hiumish force enmesh ! 

Von Kluck turns tail ! He races to the Aisne ! 
His foes press on him hard, with might and 

main ! 
He crosses o 'er the Aisne ! Does there entrench ! 
The battle's won! English have helped the 

French ! 



AN EPIC STORY OF THE WORLD WAR 45 

'*We stopped them at the Marne!" the sol- 
diers cry. / 

Yea, there ye stopped them ! though brave men 
did die, 

To make the victory yours and ours to-day ! 

Hail to the Victors ! We, them, honors pay. 

Ah, English bold ! Ah, Frenchmen brave and 
true ! 
The world will ne 'er forget these deeds ye do ! 
''The Vict'ry of the Marne," on Hist'ry's page, 
Will glory give ye, throughout ev 'ry age ! 

Though General French did much, — ^the soldiers 

more, — 
'Twas Joffre the aged, ''Papa Joffre,'' who bore 
The highest glory from this great emprize. 
And now, in honoring him, each nation vies. 

Great Joffre! Though from no priv'ledged 

warrior line, — 
Schooled in hard circumstance and meagre 

time, — 
Thou dost, by Marne, thy name so great enhance, 
That, rightly, thou art called: "Saviour of 

France!" 

Like Nelson, thou did'st give thy battle cry: 
' ' Stand here ! Yield not another inch ! — but die, 
' ' If need be, — for the land and cause ye love ! 
*'The world expects it, and, — our God above!"' 



46 THE GATES OF JANUS 

And there they stood! — though flaming shot 
and shell, 

Poured from Hun guns, as from the mouth of 
Hell! 

They stood? Nay, — conquered! "What a glori- 
ous day 

"Was that for France ! — and, for the world, — ^f or 
aye! 

And so, great Joffre! we give thee our ap- 
plause, 
As thou hast won for us, and for our cause, 
Such Vict 'ry o 'er the Hun and all alarm ; — 
We'll ne'er forget thee and the glorious Marne! 

5. THE BATTLE OF THE AISNE. 

Look at the Prussians, now, upon the Aisne ! 
They kno¥7 full Vv^ell their power is on the wane. 
They've burrowed there, like rabbits, filled with 

fear! 
They start trench warfare when defeat seems 

near! 

Afraid to face the foe, as did the French, — 
And British too, — at Marne ! — they make defence 
Of trench and timber, earth and concrete 

mixed, — 
"With fences of barbed wire about them fixed ! 



AN EPIC STORY OF THE WORLD WAR 47 

They've ''gone to their own place" ! 'Tis un- 
derground ! — 
Far deeper yet than this which they have found ! 
And to that deeper depth, we know full well, 
The foe will send them, — to their lowest Hell ! 

Aye, Prussian ! and of this thou'rt fearful too ! 
Thy conscience pricks, since all thou hast been 

through ! 
Thou know'st, that, — after Belgium's tortures 

giv'n,— 
Thou art far worthier Hell, than worthy Heav'n ! 



See ! how he digs, deep down, with might and 



main 



As if to hide him, from the white hot flame 
Of outraged manhood ! But he cannot long ? 
The guns soon reach him ! The fight still is on ! 

From Noyon to La Fere, the line is stretched. 
Then S©uth to Kheims, and on to Verdun next. 
The Hun's 'gainst Eheims; French, English, 

'gainst La Fere, 
Both aided by the guns, on land, — in air. 

The aero's soon to play, in this great War, 
Such part as weapons never played before. 
Now though it's armed, its main part is to spy, 
And tell its friends where vv^eakest places lie. 



48 THE GATES OF JANUS 

Thaw, Guynemer, Lufberry, Ghapmaii too, — 
With many others, — take up this work new. 
They're in the training, and, — ^when time is 

ripe,— 
The *'War in Air" will count in ev'ry fight! 

Now, for twelve days, each flings the battle's 

gage; 
All up and down this mde spread line, fights 

rage! 
Guns roar ! The watching aero 's fill the sky ! 
Shells plow the ground, and noble heroes die ! 

For four days more the fight goes blindly on, — 
Save as the aero 's see the havoc done ! 
The men are fighting what they cannot see ! 
Eesults can nothing but indefinite be ! 

The wily Boche knew what he was about, 
When he '^dug in, ' '—refused to ''fight it out"! 
Fighting like this is worthy Huns that fear 
The open face, heart, mind, and — brave men 
near! 

La Fere still stands! French, English, make 

no way. 
Rheims still holds out !— bombarded day by day. 
Verdun holds back the Crown Prince, — just as 

well ; 
Their only gain is that of St. Mihiel ! 



AN EPIC STORY OF THE WORLD WAR 49 

6. THE FALL OF ANTWERP AND BATTLE 
OF FLANDERS. 

Two other things occur, while this fight's on. 
Which lead to other two, that join in one. 
Von Kluck is racing to the sea, to take 
The Coast at Dunkirk, or at Calais' gate. 

The French go North, by Amiens, to outflank 
His army great, wdth their few forces scant. 
They both are brought to deadlock and entrench. 
The foe 's again outwitted by the French ! 

The fight for Antwerp, starts last day of 
Aisne. 
The Belgians stand, for ten days, under strain 
Of siege horrific ; — helped by the Marines, 
From British ships, that strive to act as screens. 

Their help is useless ! Antwerp grandly falls ! 
The Belgian army rushes from its w^alls, — 
To where the French and English guard their 

coast, — 
And join their forces with the Allied host. 

Now from the North Sea to the river Aisne, 
And from the Aisne to Verdun, and Swiss chain 
Of frontiers neutral, do the trenches run. 
A four years' battle is but just begun! 
4 



50 THE GATES OF JANUS 

'Tis to tlie Yser, now, the battle flies ; 
Dunkirk, with Calais, just beyond it lies. 
The Prussians seek to break the weak defence 
And take these vital coast towns from the 
French. 

Upon the battered Belgian force now rests, 
Another trying series of great tests ; 
Biit they hold out, and foil the Prussian aim. 
While British warships help them from the 
main ! 

Between the Lys and Nieuport on the Sea, 
There 's sixteen German army corps, — to be 
Held back by French and British,— Belgium 

joined. 
To hold them back a new device is coined. 

The dykes are cut! The country's flooded 
wide! 
The Prussians fast retreat before such tide ! 
The Coast is saved! The Belgians hold their 

stand ! 
They still retain this corner of their land ! 

Here in this sector, there is now to be, 
Another battle joined, that all agree 
Has proved as great as any in the War, 
For valor, pluck, — endurance steeped in gore! 



AN EPIC STORY OF THE WORLD WAR 51 

7. FIEST AND SECOND BATTLE OF 
YPRES. 

'Tis of famed Ypres, Muse, I, now, would tell, 
Not of first fight alone, but next as well. 
Though they are cut, — by six months, — into two, 
Our lads were there, through all, their best to do ! 

The first comes on while Yser 's battles rage. 
The plucky British set themselves to save. 
Not only place itself, but all beyond, — 
The Belgian and French coast from Prussian 
bond. 

They save the day, by many a brave advance ! 
Are beaten back ! Advance again for France ! 
Aye, — and for Belgium! Yes, — for all the 

world ! 
That Prussian **Kultur" be not on it hurled! 

They suffer much! God — ^how they suffer 

there ! 
Fair Hist'ry's page knows not a deed more rare ! 
They hold the line! The Hun is backward 

turned ! 
His power is vanquished and his ^'Kultur" 

spurned ! 



52 THE GATES OF JANUS 

Then, for tliat other fight, they six months 

wait, 
And still they hold the line from Boehe 's hate ! 
They're joined now by Canadians, bold and 

strong, 
"WhoVe crossed the Sea to help right Belgium's 

wrong ! 

Twas April twenty two, Nineteen-Fifteen, 
The Germans came again, — and then was seen, 
Sights rivalling, — surpassing those before! — 
The spitef uUest, most dev 'lish of all War ! 

'Twas there the Prussians first used poison gas ; 
No man was then prepared, in all that mass, 
To meet such deviltry ! No man had thought, 
That, e'en from Hell, would things like this be 
brought ! 

See how it comes ! — a greenish, yellowish haze ! 
It meets the men, and wind-rows of them slays I 
They fall, like wheat, before some Reaper dread ! 
They gasp! choke! pray! — are numbered with 
the dead ! 

But, did the others flinch? Nay, still they 
stood ! 
And bravely met this dank, insidious flood 
Of hellish death ! Still held the Prussian back. 
From crossing' o 'er their line to coast attack ! 



AN EPIC STORY OF THE WORLD WAR 53 

They are encircled, and their end seems near I 

But Geddes comes ! His five Battalions cheer ! — 

As they plunge in the fight, their friends to save 1 

There, they gain glory! There, they find their 

grave ! 

Three times that greenish poison haze appears. 
Three times they meet it, — without masks — or 

fears ! 
They can beat Hell itself, when they 're aroused ! 
For even devils have by men been cowed ! 

For two months they resist them, — ^beat them 
down ! 
The Prussians, by this time, have sadly found, 
That Freemen are not quelled by devils damned ! 
They own themselves defeated ! Seek new land ! 

Thus, did Canadians beat this hellish crew, 
And make world catch it 's breath ! — as they push 

through 
Gas, flame and death, to win that glorious day! 
The Coast is saved from Nieuport to Calais! 

Aye! Let the British boast Colonials brave! 
They've proved, Canadians, — who have crossed 

the wave, — 
Can fight like their own brothers! — which they 

are! 
One country 'tis, whether it's near or far ! 



54: THE GATES OF JANUS 

Canadians ! Unto you this day will be, 
A bright star in your country 's History ! 
And men, all o 'er the world, will loud acclaim, 
The far flung glorj^ of the British name ! 

Hail, then to ye who nobly stemmed the tide ! 
Who conquered fumes of Hell, — or bravely died ! 
We give ye glory, as ye've won Fame's meed, 
At bloody Ypres, — by such valiant deed ! 

8. THE BATTLE OF HELIGOLAND. 

Turn now with me from land to raging deep. 
The battle is on there, with powerful sweep. 
The second day of War, the British ' ' Lance ' ' 
Sinks ' ' Konigen Luise, ' ' as mines she plants. 

*'Amphion," by German mine's destroyed 
next day. 
One hundred thirty one they foully slay ! 
But, four days later, **U-Boat Fifteen" 's 

caught, 
By British, — as by ''Birmingham" she's sought. 

Now, everywhere these prowling U-Boats go. 
If they can't win above, — they'll win below! 
They stealthily do wait on ev'ry hand; 
No ship is safe, from whatsoever land. 



AN EPIC STORY OF THE WORLD WAR 55 

They get the *' Pegasus, "—-French boat 

"Zelie/' 
In port colonial, across the sea. 
The submarine ' ' U-Nine, ' ' in one fell hour, 
Sinks ''Aboukir," ^'Hogue,'' ^'Cressy,'' by its 

power. 

The Allies 'rouse! They swear a solemn 
oath : — 
They '11 drive the submarine from ev 'ry coast ! 
To English, most, the work they now entrust ; 
She goes ! Her ships are to all quarters rushed ! 

Then comes the battle great of Helgoland, 
Where English Beatty makes the Prussians 

stand, — 
As his great fleet lies waiting for the Huns, 
With full steam set and heavy shotted guns. 

The German Navy, had essayed to hide, 
Within the Kiel Canal and Baltic tide ; 
But Beatty bold, expecting soon their flight. 
Met them and won, in Heligoland's Bight! 

He meets the ''Koln," the ''Ariadne," 

''Mainz." 
They're struck! They sink within the Bight's 

confines ! 
Two Hun destroyers, also, they assail ; 
They run! They're caught! They're sunk in 

death's dark vale! 



66 THE GATES OF JANUS 

T^Yo lliousnnd Pinissians in that fight are lost! 
Three hundred prisoners taken, pay the eost! 
Tlie British, jubihnit, the Fh^^t aeehviins ! 
Thev've won most i>loriouslv o'er German aims! 



' ' Abonkir, '' '' Ilogue ' ' and ' ' Cressy ' M Ye 're 
avenged ! 
As other ships ^YiU be, — whom God forfend! 
They're meeting them e'en now, on ev'ry Sea. 
The past is bad ! The worst is yet to be ! 

9. THE ^^EMDEN" AND FALKLAND 
ISLANDS FIGHTS. 

The raider ''Emden'' now it^ power evokes, 
In Penang's harbor, French and Ivnsslan boats 
Are sunk by it, — four British, in Rangoon ■ s ! — 
While twenty five, from various hnids, it dooms. 

But England has her colonies alert ! 
ITer ow^n ships, do not only with death flirt ! 
The others, — from her lands afar, — are those 
Wlio, in colonial seas, ITun's power oppose. 

Thus, now, the ** Sidney,*' from Australia 

far, — 
Who's long been wond'ring where these raiders 

are, — 
Meets with the ^'Emden,'* joins in battle fierce, 
Sends flaming shots, the raider's hull to pierce! 



AN EPIC STORY OF THE WORLD WAR 57 

See how they fly! — like meteors bright and 

strong ! 
The ' ' Emden ' ' 's sinking ! Such fight can 't last 

long! 
The Germans run the ship upon the beach ; 
She's all in flames ! The Hun is over-reached ! 

Praise be, to these Colonials brave and bold ! 
They Ve done a wond'rous deed, that will be told 
In many ages ! — as their children come 
To hear Australia's Vict'ry o'er the Hun ! 



Yet, still sad news is brought to England's 

shore. 
For other raiders, — greater malice bore 
To England's ships! On ''Monmouth" and 

"Good Hope,"— 
Five vent their spite! — too weak with them to 

cope. 

Such fateful news, arouses England 's ire. 
She sends Sturdee, to meet these raiders dire. 
On "Dresden," "Leipzig," "Gneisenau," 

"Scharnhorst,"— 
With "Niirnberg," — ^he's to bring a battle, 

forced ! 

The Falkland Isles, then, see the great effect 
Of British Sea-power, — and more Germans 

wrecked ! — 
An Sturdee sights these wily raiders, five. 
And forces battle, which shall Right decide. 



58 THE GATES OF JANUS 

He meets the foe on a December day. 
Spee, dreads the fight, and, seeks to run away ! 
Vain thought! The ''Niirnberg," "Leipzig" 

are aflame ! 
**Seharnhorst" and **Gneisenau" sink neath the 

main ! 

The ^'Dresden,"— just escaping by her 
speed, 
Is sunk, still later, for her recreant deed. 
The raiders all are lost, not one is left ! 
Vengeance is won !— -in awful glory drest I 

Thus were the *' Monmouth" and ^*Good 
Hope" avenged, — 
Thus naval deeds with those of soldiers blend ; 
And British valor, on both land and main. 
Is proved, in fights like these, to be the same. 

10. THE CAPTURE OF KIAU-CHAU. 

Now farther come with me across the wave, 
Where ''Flowery Kingdom" lies, with warriors 

brave. 
The Japs are rising ! They have made a vow. 
That they will take, from Prussia, Kiau-chau ! 

Two weeks had not yet passed in this great 
War, 
When Jap, to Prussia, ultimatum bore ; 
Demanding their retirement from Far East ; — 
Surrender of all China's land they'd leased. 



AN EPIC STORY OF THE WORLD WAR 59 

On Kiau-cliau, they'd built strong Tsing-tao. 
By this great fort, they thought to hold the foe. 
But Japs, assisted by the British Fleet, 
The guns soon silence and their foes defeat ! 

Not only do both Fleets take part in fight. 
But British-Indian forces, — on the height 
Above Tsing-tao, — help Jap forces strong. 
The Fort 's beleaguered by a motley throng ! 

See ! how East Indians, with Bernardiston, — 
And Japs, with Kamio, — attack the Hun ! 
They take the trenches 'round about the Fort ! 
They storm the heights and hold them for sup- 
port ! 

Prince Heinrich Hill, they carry by assault. 
With such brave fighting, East has West at fault ! 
There 's twenty thousand men set there to win, — 
To drive Hun from the East as War begins ! 

Two months and more the battle rages on. 
The Fort surrenders as October's gone. 
The Prussians yield all East possessions now. 
Tsing-tao 's gone and also Kiau-chau I 

Japan bold ! Anglo-Indians brave ! 
We laud ye for the way that day ye save ! 
At such new foes, base Prussia stands aghast ! 
The end is certain ! Vict'ry will be vast ! 



60 THE GATES OF JANUS 

Thus have I freely tried to show the trend 
Of first year's war, np to December's end, — 
With these Allies. Now, help me, Muse, to tell 
Of others joined. Of their great deeds as well. 

And may I tell them, not as one to please 
The ear of groundlings ! — who, e 'er morbid, seize 
Merely the bloody facts within their ken ! 
Help me, Muse, to rouse the souls of men! 



BOOK III. 

1. THE KUSSIAN VICTORIES ON THE 
EASTERN FRONT. 

Now, look ! The Wolf -liound to tlie North has 
run, 
And roused the Slavs against the raging Hun ! 
Their hosts pour forth upon the Eastern Front. 
They both the Prussians and the Austrians hunt. 

As soon as Austria had assailed the Serb, 
The ''Great White Father" of the North had 

heard 
Their cry for aid, — and quickly came to save 
His Slavic people from the Austrian's rage. 

The Prussian, then, in ''shining armor*' 

bright. 
Joined with his Austrian Ally in the fight. 
In two months more the Turk has joined the 

fray. 
And, 'gainst these three, great Russia turns to 

slay. 

Berlin's but scant two hundred miles, at most, 
From Russ frontier, and, — Allies thought, — the 

host 
Of Russians fierce would soon cross o'er their 

lines, 
And Germany invade, for all her crimes ! 
61 



62 THE GATES OF JANUS 

That strong frontier, howe'er, is but a wedge 
Between East Prussia and Galieia's edge; 
Before she e 'er on Berlin seeks to drive, 
She must clear North and South,— where foes 
abide. 

East Prussia's entered and, at Gumbinnen, 
The Eussians conquer Prussia! All thought 

then, — 
i\s five more array corps invade from South, — 
The end was near, that they'd drive Prussians 

out! 

They drove them to the Vistula ! — but there 
The Prussians turned, and boldly flanked them 

where 
Von Hindenburg, at Tannenberg, them meets, 
And brings upon them worst of War's defeats! 

They're driven back, with seventy thousand 
lost ! 
For such attempt they paid a fearful cost I 
But, undismayed, they to the South now turn 
And raid Galicia, — while their passions burn ! 

Lemberg is taken, its main city grand! 
Halicz and Nickolaiev can't withstand 
Their fearful onslaught! Rawaruska too, — 
With Jaroslav's strong fortress, — ^thcy break 
through I 



AN EPIC STORY OF THE WORLD WAR 63 

Przemysl, — for three month 's, — invested now ; 
The Russians then advance upon Cracow ! 
Galicia 's over-run, on hill and plain ! 
They cross Carpathians and new vict 'ries gain ! 

In rugged Caucausus, they Turk defeat ; 
While at Odessa they his Navy meet 
And foil ! Then, they, through Bukowina 's land, 
March on, — a valiant, mighty, conquering band ! 

In Poland too, against von Hindenburg, 
They win at Augustowo, on the verge 
Of their frontier ! Drive through East Prussia 

then. 
Take Angerburg and Gumbinnen again ! 

Przemysl falls, through War 's terrific blast ! 
The Austria-Prussian-Turco hopes are dashed ! 
Poland 's high hopes rise to her frontiers old, — 
Piussia has promised that she '11 them unfold ! 

PrzemysPs greatest Vict'ry that the "War 
Has thus far shown, — and greatest glory bore ! 
One hundred thirty thousand prisoners ta'en, — 
AVith millions of war worth, and thousands slain ! 

No wonder all the world was great amazed ! 
No wonder Poland, at such news, was raised 
So high in hope ! Russia at last has won 
Supremest place! Has conquered Austrian, — 
Hun! 



64 THE GATES OF JANUS 

Ah, Russia ! What great powers are now thine 
own, 
If thou can 'st hold thy faith ! — Courage enthrone 
In thy weak heart ! — And turn that ochre spot, 
Blood red with valor, as foes 'gainst thee plot! 

2. THE DEVASTATION OF POLAND. 

And Poland brave! Lose not thy val'rous 
heart ! 
Thou hast been harried ; — still must bear the part 
Of martyr, in this struggle fierce and long ! 
But, fear not, — e'en if Russia fails ! Be strong ! 

The Allies all are with thee and thy cause. 
Thou'rt new friends gaining daily, — as they 

pause 
To hear thy lot, to read thy hist 'ry grim ! 
They'll fight, and, for thee, independence win! 

Ye've thought of Belgium! Think of Poland 
too! 
Know ye not, in this War, three nations threw 
Their armies there? That, unlike Belgium bold, 
She had no arms to fight, — no power to hold ? 

If Belgium's harried by the dastard Hun, 
Thrice harried Poland's woe is but begun ! 
Through three long years, she'll have upon her 

soil. 
The scourge of three fierce foes, who her embroil ! 



AN EPIC STORY OF THE WORLD WAR 65 

Hacked by the shard of War ! Plowed by its 

shells ! 
Her hideous tortures are like unto Hell's! 
Her cities burned ! Men, women, children slain ! 
God! How they suifered! How they cried in 

vain! 

In vain ? Nay, not in vain ! Save for the day ! 
Their God has heard them! — and their Allies 

pray, 
That they may be the mightier scourge of God, — 
Their foes to punish and redeem their sod ! 

A time will come, Poland, be assured, 
When Allies brave shall have for thee procured 
Life, — Liberty ! So, — e 'en if Russia break, — 
Be not cast down ! New friends for thee awake ! 

With these all joined, thou then shalt have thy 
day. 
Not for brief moment but, — please God! — ^for 

aye! 
The Allies promise it ! It is to be ! 
Poland ! Thou shalt be yet, forever free ! 

3. ITALY ENTERS THE WAR. 

But hark ! I hear the bay of St. Bernard, 
As he has passed each mountain watch and ward. 
To rouse his masters ! Though held back in part, 
He only waits ; — does not refuse to start. 
5 



66 THE GATES OF JANUS 

'Twas natural that he should hesitate. 
Italia 's long: been joined, in 'fairs of State, 
With Austria, — and with Germa.ny the bold ; 
But, not to ravage! IMerely hinds to hold! 

Ah, Italy ! Thous^'h joined in triple strength, 
With Prussia and with Austria, thy intent 
Was not to war, — save where thine honor led I 
And they not keeping theirs, — such pact's now 
dead I 

Honor could never lead thee to invade 
A weak land, — from such wrong by treaty saved ! 
Nor lead thee to crush Serbia to tlie dust. 
Because, foul, treacherous Austria say*st thou 
must I 

Thou said'st: — he fore the War, — bold Aus- 
tria's move, 
Against the Serb, was wrong! Did'st not ap- 
prove 
Tlieir infamy ! And, by that, thou gav 'st sign, 
Thou could 'st not join in any such foul crime! 

Thy War Dog brave, tlie massive St. Bernard, 
Seemed laggard, as he passed yon mountain 

ward, 
That shut thee off from battle smoke and din ; 
But we ne^er doubted j — we still trusted him! 



AN EPIC STORY OF THE WORLD WAR 67 

His blood was cooled, by thine own Alpine 
snows, — 
To gentle deeds of mercy! — as he goes 
To help the lost, to succor dying men ! — 
But, now J he goes, — to foil ''The Furious Ten." 

As cool in temper, hesitant as he, — 
Wlien carefulness will save! — thou heard 'st the 

free, 
Cry loud for help, against oppressing hands. 
And this, — ^this only! — broke down all thy bands. 

'Twas this, that stirred the heart of Cavour 
strong ! 
That moved brave Garibaldi 'gainst the wrong ! 
This, that saved Italy from all its foes, 
And raised it Victor from unnumbered woes! 

'Twas this, that made Cadorna ready now, — 
As, once, his father was, when he did vow : 
To give the keys of Rome into the hand 
Of his great sovereign, — with united land ! 

Twas this, that made Diaz the Saviour, when, 
Isonzo brought defeat, — through wearied men ! 
That made D'Annunzio, — the poet brave, — 
Leave life of ease, his own loved land to save ! 



68 THE GATES OF JANUS 

The oliallensre heard, thou answered as thou 
must, — 
'Til Italy s proud Freemen turn to dust ! 
Thy blood is warmed, now, to its fiereest heat ! 
Thy vow is made ! Tliou wilt such foes defeat ! 

But few days passed before thou crossed the 
line. 
Gradisea siiw thy Hglitiui]: deeds sublime! 
Isonzo's passed ! Tliou to Gorizia eame. 
And threatened Trieste from the land and main. 

Here thy c:reat Navy did most trlorious deeds! 
Here Kizzo,, and his men, won their g"reat meeds 
Of praise, — as they to Trieste harbor passed, 
And sank the Austrian warships 'gainst them 
massed ! 

Ah ! Wliaf a splendid tale my Muse could tell, 
Of battles fierce on sea, land, — ^liills and dell ! 
Of the Trentino ! Sabotino grand ! 
** Italia Irredenta*'! — longed for land! 

All these were subject to thy warlike might. 
And sliall again be thine, — when Peace gives 

Right ! 
Freed from the Austrian yoke, with power, by 

thee ; — 
Italia, — all! — shall be forever free! 



AN EPIC STORY OF THE WORLD WAR 69 

4. BULGARIA, ROUMANIA AND GREECE 
TO THE FORE. 



Heard ye that sound 'Tis the deep-throated 
bay 

Of Blood-hound, set for where Bulgaria lay. 
lie reaches that wild land ! Sets all aflame, 
By his loud cries, — and, Huns, new Allies gain ! 

Bulgaria longs for Serbia, — or a part, — 
To be giv'n her by Austria, in the mart 
Of pirates foul, — when they share other's land, 
Which soon they hope to snatch from out their 
hand! 

She longs, again, for the Dobrudja coast, 
Held by Roumania; — for commanding post 
On the Aegean, now held by Greek power. 
Save for these two, she 'd never had this hour ! 

If Greece had listened, when the Allies cried, 
Then fair Roumania would have with her vied. 
In deeds of greatness ! — with Bulgaria crushed 
'Tween upper, nether millstones 'gainst her 
pushed ! 

But Greece held back. Roumania waited too. 
Millstones are wide apart! Bulgaria's through! 
She ravages on Serbia's wasted land ! — 
Then, Allies, Salonica's port demand! 



70 THE GATES OF JANUS 

This was an action, needed to protect 
The Allies' Island homes, and to project 
Another brave defence of Balkan States, — 
Of little Serbia, whom Bulgaria hates. 

Save for Bulgaria, Serbia had not lost 
All her possessions, — at such frightful cost ! 
But, hounded, now, by foes, both South and 

North, 
She is compelled to yield ! She's driven forth ! 

The Allies are too late to give her aid ! 
Greece has held back too long ! Roumania brave. 
Had gladly joined in that long looked defence, — 
With Southern sister helping toils immense ! 

Ah Greece ! Thou hast much more to answer 

for. 
Than that defeat on the Propontis shore, — 
That's yet to come ! Through thee poor Serbia's 

lost! 
Through thee, the Bulgar's loosed, — at awful 

cost! 

And how? Come, if ye'd know the how and 
why, 
To where the Grecian Isles in beauty lie ; 
To where Achilles in his tent once lay, 
Sulldng for Agamemnon's wrested prey. 



AN EPIC STORY OF THE WORLD WAR 71 

Now, not Achilles, but all Greece doth lie. 
Sulking in tents, beneath the summer sky 
Of Aegea's shore, and daily they refuse 
To take up arms, — because a woman woos ! 

Another Helen, in a Grecian court, 
A modern Menaelaus set at naught. 
Would she'd been ravished from her Grecian 

home, — 
And, hidden safely 'neath a Prussian throne ! 

She, prompted by her Prussian brother's guile, 
The Grecian King misled, by every wile 
To woman known! Held back the Grecian 

men, — 
Aided, abetted, by the *' Furious Ten.'' 

They have done much, but there is more to do 
Through her, — and through some other people 

too! 
They meet for counsel, all their plans to lay. 
Alas, those plans ! Alas, that fateful day ! 



BOOK IV. 

1. THE COUNCIL OF THE FURIES. 

Have ye, then, thought the Furies quiet were. 
After that Council in the Kaiser's lair? 
Nay ! They Ve raged, murdered, raped in many 

lands ! 
Fury itself, hath broken all its bands ! 

They were in Belgium, and they Poland broke ! 
In Serbia and North France, they Hell evoke ! 
And now, with other lands in mind, they come, 
New plans to hatch, for aid of murd'rous Hun! 

As Jove and Neptune, Mars and Pallas joined 
In secret conclave, and new plots were coined 
To aid, or bring defeat on Greece or Troy, — 
So now these Furies met in same employ. 

Eage now is spokesman and, with horrid front, 
She rises, — red and grim from battle's brunt, — 
Shakes her dishevelled locks, that drip with gore, 
And, unappeased by War, still shrieks for more ! 

**Hear now ye Furies!'' Thus she snarling 
cries : 
'*The War is languishing and, Peace, — defies 

* * The brazen Gates of Janus ! — op 'ed for strife ! 

* * We must fresh counsel take, or, — ^lose our life ! 

73 



74 THE GATES OF JANUS 

**Our patrons must be helped, — that Quartette 

brave ! — 
*'Who make, — for might and conquest, — honor's 

grave ! 
' ' They now are needing all our wiles and power, 
'*0r they'll be lost, in Freedom's threatening 

hour ! 

*'The Russians conquer on Carpathia's hill. 
''Our virus works, but does not work to kill ! 
"The English, French and upstart Belgians 

bold, 
** Still stand and fight, as though they'd aJways 
hold! 

*'The bold Italians have driven far, 
''Beyond fair Udine's bounds, and Trieste niai% 
' ' With shot and shell ! The G reeks now restive 

grow, 
' ' To join the fray, and, with the Allies go ! 

"All these, with threatening disasters, roll 
"Against these patrons, under our control! 
"We must now stop them, or dread ruin red, 
"Will overwhelm us, with them, 'mong the de^d ! 

"Hear, then, this plan: Go, Envy, — thou and 

Lust, 
"And bring the Russian power into the dust! 
"Infest each peasant's mind with envy grim; 
"Make lust of power, each fighting soldier's 

whim ! 



AN EPIC STORY OF THE WORLD WAR 75 

** Raise Revolution, red, o'er all the land; 
''Make Discord and Disorder break their band! 
''Thus, shall proud Russia, from her seat be 

hurled, 
"And Anarchy's dread banner be unfurled! 

"And, Malice, thou, with Bitterness and 
Hate, — 
"And Cruelty, fore-runner of black Fate, — 
" Go ye to Turkey and Bulgaria too ; 
' ' Stir up their passions to the worst they do ! 

"Make them to raven on Armenia's land, 
' ' To murder, burn, pollute that Christian band ! 
' ' Draw off the force of England, to protect, 
"Possessions in the East, from worse effect. 

"And, ye. Lies, Pride of place and pomp and 

power, 
"Go ye, to Greece's court, and give full dower 
"Of both, to Grecian Queen! Much have ye 

done, 
' ' But more is needed, now, to help the Hun. 

"Teach her, to put into her husband's mind, 
' * The pomp and pride of place, that he will find, 
"In helping her great German brother's plan: — 
"To conquer all the world, and enslave man ! 



76 THE GATES OF JANUS 

** Teach her, to instil lies, into the heart 
''Of Grecians, — which is e'er the Prussian's 

part ! 
' ' To bend them to the German will, her aim, — 
''Without a thought of honor, or of shame! 

"Go ye, with treach'ry, to Isonzo's banks, 
"Ply there your wiles, with Italy's brave ranks! 
"Print false reports; assert the Pride and 

Might, 
"Of Austro-Prussia's winnings, 'gainst the 

Eiffht! 






Create in them a panic, 'gainst such power. 
Through printed lies ! Make them, now, think 
the hour 
* ' Of further vict 'ry vain ! Turn, turn them back, 
* ' In rout to Venice, at the next attack ! 



a 



Go, also, ye, afar across the main, 
To where Columbia lies, with all her train 
Of Freemen bold! Corrupt her mind and 
heart 
"With lies, and pride of pelf, and store, and 
mart! 

"Keep her from venturing all, in this great 
War. 
"Make Pacifist, and Alien, put before 
' ' Her soul, — j'our sub 'lest, inmost, dev'lish wiles ! 
' ' She must be held ! If not by force, — ^by guile ! 



AN EPIC STORY OF THE WORLD WAR 77 

'^ Meanwhile, through all the ranks, thou, Ra- 
pine, go 
' ' With me, — to lash to fury all below, 
* ' Who trust in us ! We '11 bring confusion dire, 
* ' On all who turn from us, and scorn our ire ! " 

She said: Then, to their sev'ral horrid tasks. 
The Furies leaped, — discarding all the masks 
They often wear! And, hurrying through all 

lands. 
Work, with dread vigor, to perfect their plans. 

2. THE MURDER OF ARMENIA. 

And, now, through all their hellish rage, is 

heard 
A cry in Ramah, — Rachel's awful surge 
Of grief, — for children, husbands, fathers 

slain ; — 
Whose bones lie scattered on Armenia's plain. 

As Milton cried: — against Waldensian 

wrong, — 
"Avenge, Lord, thy slaughtered saints!'' — ^so, 

strong 
And fierce, arose a cry 'gainst such foul hurt : — 
* ' Avenge Armenia, Lord ! Drive out the Turk ! ' ' 



78 THE GATES OF JANUS 

A million martyrs ! Shall such wrong go free ? 

No! Not while God: — Eight, Justice, still doth 
see! 

Not while men's hearts with pity still are 
blessed, — 

To right earth's wrongs, and, champion the op- 
pressed ! 

Foul butcher Turk! Too long thy reign has 

been, 
Since first ''Mahmoud the Conqueror" entering 

in 
To Stamboul and Sophia's sacred fane, — 
The Crescent raised; pulled down the Cross in 

shame ! 

The Furies may be strong, but stronger still 
Is God ! And He, through us, will right all ill ! 
For every wrong unto Armenia given, 
We'll punish thee, foul Turk, — accurst of 
Heaven I 

Thy days are numbered ! For this last offence, 
From Europe thou 'It be driven, and, — hurrying 

thence, — 
Into the desert, whence thou came'st, shalt go, — 
Accursed of God ! Conquered by Christian foe ! 

And thou too, Prussian dastard! — thou shalt 
feel 
The thrust and turn of Retribution's steel, — 
For all thou'st done in this black horror fell, 
That is more worthy thee, than worth Hell ! 



AN EPIC STORY OF THE WORLD WAR 79 

No devil damned could work such butchery ! 
The Devil tempts to sin, that it may be, 
The reason for the tortures he would wreak ! 
Thou did'st not tempi, but, struck like some mad 
beast ! 

Not Furies, only, but thee, bloody Hun ! — 
Led on the Turks to these foul deeds they've 

done ! 
The Turk admits it ! History will tell, 
That thou'rt more savage than the fiends of 

Hell! 

For Belgium's horrors, for Armenia's woe, 
We hold thee cause ! And for it thou shalt know 
The weight of all our wrath! By strength of 

Bight, 
We'll break thee, coward! Conquer all thy 

Might ! 

Belgium, Armenia brave, shall not in vain, 
Invoke our pity, for their thousands slain ! 
For woes unnumbered, and for outraged love, 
We'll punish thee, — thou beast! — as God's 
above ! 

3. THE ITALIAN RETREAT TO THE 
PIAVE. 

At the behest of Rage, — Lies, Pride, now, came 
To the Isonzo 's banks, close by the main, — 
Where Italy had won such vict'ries brave, 
Against their Austrian foes, on land and wave. 



so THE GATES OF JANUS 

They ply their lies, through the false, printed 

page, 
Of newspapers, Italian, they had made 
To look like those from home! The men they 

stun, 
With news of marvelous victories by the Hun! 

Wearied by labors, hard, and perils oft, 
The brave Italians, — though, first, they scoffed, 
At news like this ; — at last began to trust, 
And weakly turned against the foe 's next thrust. 

Back, back they're driven, by the vicious foe! 
Back, far beyond the Tagliamento ! 
Until, at the Piave 's sullen flood. 
They turned and faced the foe, and it withstood ! 

Here, Diaz bold, has Austria held at bay, 
Since Nineteen-Seventeen, — and would for 

aye ! — 
Save that, at last, he'll break through Austrian 

stand, 
And win, — more than now's lost, — for his loved 

land! 

Italia ne'er ha^s felt, — ^the Austrian yoke 
Was all cut off, in that great patriot stroke 
Of Eighteen-Seventy ! — And, now, she means 
Italia shall, at last, be all redeemed I 



AN EPIC STORY OF THE WORLD WAR 81 

Yes, and we'll help thee, bold and patriot 
land! 
The Allies now are joined in thy great stand 
At the Piave! And they'll see, with thee, 
That ''Italy Redeemed" shall all be free! 

4. THE RUSSIAN DEBACLE. 

To Russia, now, those other Furies haste. 
Their plans to hatch, and, through them, to lay 

waste 
The pride and strength of all the Slav's do- 
main, — 
And bring red ruin hurtling in their train ! 

They fill the soldiers' hearts with envy, — lust 
For other's wealth and power! Make them dis- 
trust 
Their leaders! Rage and Rapine, them incite, 
To turn their arms against each other's right. 

The Czar is overthrown ! And, for a time, 
The Furies' shrieks are stilled, in pealing chime 
Of Freedom's bells, — as a Republic grand 
Is promised, to this much beleaguered land ! 

Vain hope ! The Furies soon arouse the lust 
Of Bolshevik, — and Freedom trails in dust 
Of buried hopes ! — as Miliukoff and Lvoff, — 
Kerensky too, — are by the mob cast off ! 
6 



82 THE GATES OF JANUS 

Lenine and Trotsky, now, the power usurp ! 
Red ruin's train, — with every other hurt 
Of infamy and woe, — falls on the Slav ! 
The Furies clap their hands I The Hun is glad ! 

Through their debaucheries, and vast intrigues, 
The army mutinies ! The moh now leads ! 
The land unto the enemy is sold ! 
Lenine 's the salesman ! He takes Prussian gold! 

Their Victories on Carpathians rugged hills; 
Their battles in Galicia, that thrilled 
The world ! — their fights at Lodz and Dvinsk, — 

are lost ! 
And Russia, — ^sundered Russia! — pays the cost! 

Ah, Russia ! — yet, the world cannot believe 
That thou'rt so base! That thou would 'st thus 

deceive 
Thine Allies! That thou'dst forget the holy 

trust. 
Of sacred French and English treaties just ! 

Thou'st been misled, by foul fanatics base! 
Throw off their yoke! Gird up thy loins v/ith 

haste ! 
Much can be done, if thou 'It not count the cost! 
Be strong ! Wipe out the stain of Brest-Litovsk ! 



AN EPIC STORY OF THE WORLD WAR 83 

Then shall another Russia great arise, 
Under the flaming lights of Northern skies ! 
Republic grand, — enlightened, just and free ! 
Throw off the worst ! Assert the best in thee ! 

5. THE DEFEAT AT GALLIPOLI. 

And now, to the Propontis' fatal shore, — 
Where Greek and Trojan met long years be- 
fore, — 
The English come, like young Leander brave. 
The Hellespont to pass, or there find grave ! 

If Briseis, stol'n from Achilles arms; 
Or Agamemnon, robbed of Chryses' charms; 
Or Helen, snatched from Menaelaus ' bed ; — 
The Greeks to slaughter and defeat thus led ; — 

So, thus, the English, by a woman's whim, 
Are made the victims of disasters grim, — 
As new Achilles, led by German wife. 
Hears Lies and Pride, and then forsakes the 
fight! 

Aye, Pride and Lies, — insidious Furies, sent 
By Rage, — have hastened fast on their intent ! 
They've beaten English ! on their errand bold, — 
The Dardanelles to win ! Stamboul to hold ! 



84 THE GATES OF JANUS 

They frustrate them at Saloniea's port, — 
Hold back the Greeks from their long looked 

support ! 
Hold back Roumania, waiting for the Greek, 
And give Bulgaria time his hate to wreak ! 

And, now, — Gallipoli they're set to make 
Another failure ! — by their treach 'ries great, — 
As they instil their power, through Grecian 

Queen, 
The Greeks to hold and make their plans su- 
preme ! 

Brave Venizelos tries to stem the tide ; 
To turn the Grecian Constantine 's great pride, 
To honor, rather than to pride of pelf, — 
The Hun, through Pride, has promised for him- 
self. 

In vain, the Premier pleads ! The King is set. 
To choose the evil, not the best effect ! 
He thinks but of himself ! All other 's right 
Is camouflaged by Lies, and Pride of Might ! 

Achan, for wedge of gold within his tent, — 
For Babylonish garment, that then meant 
The Pride of Place and Power, — forgot his due 
To Israel's God! And Pride the traitor slew! 



AN EPIC STORY OF THE WORLD WAR 85 

But, not alone, his wretched life he lost, — 
Dishonor e'er makes others pay the cost! — 
His sons and daughters, all with him were slain, 
The price to pay, and wipe out the foul stain ! 

So, Constantine, for pride of pomp and place, 
The Hun had promised, — if he 'd hold his State 
From War, — lost, not alone, his throne and 

power. 
But lost, — for Allies brave, — great victory's 

dower ! 

Had but the Greeks expected aid now giv'n, 
Gallipoli had ne'er from heroes riv'n 
The victory of labors hard and long, — 
And Hellespont had heard the Victor's song ! 

On Lemnos' Isle, — far famed in Grecian tale, 

Of Vulcan 's nine days fall from Heaven 's vale, — 

The English made their base, and hoped to drive 

The Turk from Europe! Take Stamboul with 

pride ! 

Of labors hard and long, of perils oft, 
Mine but to tell in part ! — How heathen scoffed 
Our vain attempts to win, and enter far. 
At Suvla Bay, — and deeds at Sedd-el-Bahr ! 



86 THE GATES OF JANUS 

Gallipoli is like Italia 's "foot*'; 
Its "heel" is Kalid Bahr; its "toe'' is put 
At Sedd-el-Bahr. It 's ' ' shin-bone ' ' 's Suvla Bay ; 
Its ' ' ankle ' ' 's Gabe Tepe, — ^where Anzacs lay. 

Sir Ian Hamilton is in command. 
The forces are from British and French land, — 
From India and from Anzac 's Islands ' home. 
Alas ! But few will ever homeward roam ! 

Two plans, to take GaUipoli, are tried : 
From Suvla Bay and Gabe Tepe, to drive 
Towards Maidos and Kalid, on Dardanelles ; 
But Sari Bair, — between, — this drive soon fells. 

The other is to take, by vast assault, 
The "toe," at Sedd-el-Bahr, and make no halt 
'Til Kalid Bahr is reached ! This is key place. 
They must reduce it or their plans efface ! 

Suvla and Gabe Tepe, with Anzac Cove, 
Are on Aegean side, while Chanak rose 
In sight, — across the straits from Kalid Bahr, — 
With Kum Kale South, where the brave French- 
men are. 

Kum Kale and Sedd-el-Bahr protect approach 
To Dardanelles. Kalid, and Chanak, broach 
The entrance to the narrows. Fatal spot ! 
'Tis here the Turks, now, most against them plot. 






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THE SIEGE OP GALLIPOLT. 



AN EPIC STORY OF THE WORLD WAR 87 

Since February, French and English ships, 
Have stormed these Forts so grim; — like Death's 

dread lips ! 
Look, now ! They think that they have silenced 

them! 
They strive to pass ! The guns burst forth again ! 

They're in the Narrows, under Kalid Bahr! 
It seems the fight is won ! That they soon are 
To pass to Stamboul ! But Chanak breaks forth ; 
The *'Bouvet" sinks while steaming North! 

Now, ** Irresistible '^ goes down on fire! 
The *' Ocean," seeks old Ocean's ooze and mire! 
The "Gaulois" 's struck! She 'scapes, but, by a 

hair! 
They must retire ! Defeat is everywhere ! 

Then come the troops ! If not by sea, by 
land, — 
They are determined to defeat this band ! 
If they can cross from Suvla, or from South, 
They'll take Fort Kalid Bahr and rout them out! 

But, on the North, Hill Sari Bair them holds ; 
On South, 'tis Achi Baba that unfolds 
Its heights so dread! With Krithia it holds 

sway. 
On way to Kalid Bahr and Maidos Bay. 



88 THE GATES OF JANUS 

Oh, how the Frenchmen fought! — the British 
brave ! 
The Anzacs, win their glory, here, and save 
Their Cove from all the Turkish dread attack ! 
The Irish, — fight like Irish ! Foes they wrack ! 

Thus, there, they battle 'til December grim. 
Though, they oft make assault, and places win, 
At Kum Kale, Sedd-el-Bahr and Suvla Bay, 
They cannot pass the hills, nor win the day. 

They wait for Greek! They wait more help 

from home ! 
From neither doth aid come, — although ships 

roam 
To Greece, — to grim Gibraltar's frowning base! 
They cannot hold! They must give up their 

place ! 

Gallipoli was lost, not by the lack 
Of those who fought there, 'gainst the Turk's 

attack, 
But, by the lack of aid from wav'ring Greek, 
And, — by lacked home support, — ^which made 
them weak. 

For ten months, they had fought on sea and 
land. 
Their struggle there was most sublimely grand ! 
One hundred fourteen thousand paid the cost ! 
Ah! what a price to pay, — ^with Viet'ry lost! 



AN EPIC STORY OF THE WORLD WAR 89 

Brave Hamilton ! Thy task indeed was hard ! 
Thine not to win, but drop the reeking shard, 
In disappointment, pain and deep regret ! 
But, England's with thee, and,— the world is, 

yet! 

Nor was it all defeat and bitter pain ! 
There Rupert Brooke fell!— and gave us this 

gain: 
That where he fell was England ! Holy trust ! 
Aye ! England's planted there in sacred dust ! 

Thus, England! thou hast well enlarged thy 
land. 
By death of these brave men, who did withstand, 
The onslaught of the Butcher Turk those days ! 
Their glorious deeds the world will ever praise ! 

'Tis by such battles great that men are proved ! 
By this great strife, all those there were endued. 
With higher, holier purpose for the Right ! 
For it they bled,— they died, in glorious fight ! 

Gallipoli ! We '11 never thee forget ! 
Thou then, for us, thy greatest glory met ! 

Defeat like this, we count to Vict'ry giv'n ! 

'er self and Wrong ! For Right and Home and 
Heav'n! 



90 THE GATES OF JANUS 

6. BRITISH VICTOEIES IN ARABIA AND 
THE HOLY LAND. 

And other vict'ries, in those Eastern lands, 
Made Britian stronger 'gainst those heathen 

bands ! 
In Araby, — once blest, — Maude gained Bagdad ! 
Jerusalem was won, beneath her flag ! 

Ah, Holy City ! — goal of all the world ! 
Where Frederick and Godfrey high unfurled 
That Red Cross banner, sacred now to all, — 
Save those who warfare wage in bitterest gall ; — 

What has thy winning meant to human kind ! 
What thanks went up from human heart and 

mind! 
When AUenby struck down, from David's towers, 
The Crescent, for the flag of Christian powers ! 

If nothing else were done in this great War, 
This one act will be praised, both near and far, 
And Britain gloried be for her bless 'd work. 
In freeing David's City from the Turk! 

She has her vices, — who on earth has not ? 
Virtue is never virtue, if it rot ! 
Virtue is Innocency, if untried I 
It's very 7iame means strength 'gainst Vice and 
Pride! 



AN EPIC STORY OF THE WORLD WAR 91 

Vice we must have, if we would Virtue gain ; 
The two are in us and must fight amain ! 
But, 'tis the battle that decides the plan, — 
By conquering Vice, thou 'It be a virtuous man! 

Through many struggles Britain has come 

scathed. 
She has been often ivrong! Often has placed. 
Her worst self for the better portion's part ! 
But, though in some things small, she's great of 

heart ! 

''The least shall be the greatest!" — that's the 
word 
God gives to little nations, that would surge 
To highest heights! Thus Britain, though so 

small. 
Has reached the highest ! How ? — Through care 
of all! 

I place her not the highest in all things. 
Italia ! France ! America I — ^have wings 
That far out-soar her, in some other flights ! 
But, she stands first, as Knight of Human 
Eights! 

'Twas this! that made her, — in Columbia's 
hour. 
When Prussian George had exercised his power 
At Lexington, — denounce the monstrous ill ! 
Wear Crepe, for those who fell on Bunker Hill ! 



92 THE GATES OF JANUS 

'Twas this ! that made brave Fox and Burke 

and Pitt, 
Kail at their Prussian King and think it fit, 
That officers and men desert their posts, 
And make George fill his ranks with Hessian 

hosts ! 

'Twas this ! that made her stand by threatened 

Prance 
At Agadir! — when Prussia made advance 
Against her! — and hold back the threatn'ing 

might, 
Of German wrath, 'gainst France and the 

world 's right ! 

'Twas this! that hurled her in the deadly 

breach, 
"When haughty Prussia did with malice reach 
Towards Belgium ! Britain's part in all to guard 
**The Rights of Man,'' with gen'rous watch and 

ward! 

'Twas this ! that made her hated, most of all, 
By Germany ! — who vowed to make her fall ! — 
Inflamed the people, — who in wrath did wait, — 
And turned them mad, with Lissauer's '*Hymn 
of Hate"! 



AN EPIC STORY OF THE WORLD WAR 93 

Ah, Britain ! This doth most thy glory prove ! 
'Gainst good, the Devil e'er doth set Hell's 

brood ! 
Thus, as 'gainst thee Hun sets *'The Furious 

Ten," 
It but puts thee in highest place again ! 

Champion of Nations! Knight of Human 

Eights ! 
"We hail thee ! Glory in thy righteous might ! 
May it be ever used, as now, to save 
The world from Wrong! Weak from dishonor's 

grave ! 



BOOK V. 
1. BACK TO THE WESTERN FRONT. 

Now let us back again to Western Front, 
Where French and English Allies bear the 

brunt, — 
With Belgians, — of the Prusso- Austrian Power; 
Backed now by Turkish and Bulgarian dower. 

These Butcher nations little help can give, 
In battles where our Western cultures live ; 
They in the East are set, to watch the font 
Of Euxine 's Sea, and guard the Hellespont. 

Within the West, Austria with Prussia joins 
To foil the Allies, and gird up their loins 
For final Victory ! Obsession rank ! 
They cannot conquer, nor their foes outflank ! 

Upon the seas they are out-witted too. 
With all their submarines and pirate crew ! 
England still sails the seas! Still sends her 

boats, — 
Loaded with fighting men, — ^to France's coasts! 

No tongue can tell of all the warfare base, 
Upon high seas, by that perfidious race 
We're fighting ! — Neutral ships, — Red Cross sent 

down! 
Relief ships, — sunk mth wounded, — men 
astound ! 

95 



96 THE GATES OF JANUS 

But England still is watching tlieni, and soon 
She visits on them still another doom ! 
For all their pirate fights beneath the waves, 
She, now, a great sea fight 'gainst them essays. 

2. THE BATTLE OF DOGGER BANK. 

'Tis Dogger Bank, that sees this furious tiile 
Of naval warfare 'gainst the Hun allied. 
Beatty 's awaiting them ! Again he wins ! 
The Prussian's punished for his Hunnish sins ! 

The ''Moltke," * ' Seydlitz, ' ' ^^Derfflinger" 

have been 
Bombarding England's coasts, with terror grim. 
They, then, with **Bliicher," start to reach their 

base, 
And boast their '* viet'ries" to a gloating race ! 

Too late! The Dogger bank's between them 
now ! 
*'Lion" and "Tiger," ''Princess Royal" vow, — 
With ''Indomitable" and "New Zealand" too,— 
To capture or to sink them, — their just due ! 

The German fleet's hid by flotilla vast 
Of submarines, — destroyers, — and they mask. 
The movements of their master ships, 'neath 

smoke, 
As, 'gainst such power, fight they dare not pro- 
voke. 



AN EPIC STORY OF THE WORLD WAR 97 

They run ! * ' Indomitable ' ' lias the range ! 
She's pouring shot and shell ! Their course they 

change. 
The ' ' Moltke " 's hit ! '' Seydlitz " * ' Derfflinger ' ' 

flame! 
They, limping, leave the fight, — through the 

smoke lane. 

The ''Blucher" 's not so fast. She's then at- 
tacked. 
* ' Lion ' ' and * * Tiger, ' ' 'round about her, — ^lacked 
Not ''Princess Royal" 's nor "New Zealand" 's 

strength. 
She's riddled fore and aft! — and sinks at length. 

Now, limp ye home ! Ye three of pirate band ! 
Tell to your conferes, throughout all your land, 
That thus it is, that England meets her foes ! 
Thus, she them conquers ! Thus, she overthrows ! 

3. THE ESTABLISHMENT OF ''WAR 
ZONES" AT SEA. 

The English now, — to further foil the Hun, — 
Draw cordons 'round her seas, and then's begun 
That seizure of supplies for Prussian homes. 
The Boche, in rage, establishes "War Zones"! 

The English had permitted food supplies 
To pass to Belgium, — ere poor Belgium dies, — 
To starving French towns, neath the Hun's foul 

yoke,— 
As Hoover planned, and world's help did evoke. 
7 



98 THE GATES OF JANUS 

But, the base Boehe, seized even these dire 
needs, 
Or sunk them in old Ocean's slimy weeds! 
Left nothing safe, — for Eed Cross or the poor ! 
How long, Lord! can world such ways en- 
dure ? 

'Tis then all neutral nations feel the power 
Of this ' ' Mad Dog of Europe, ' ' and the dower 
Of Hell, he soon bequeaths to them and theirs ! 
He has no pity ! Listens not to prayers ! 

This is it that begins estrangement sure, 
That will, through many years, full long, endure ; 
As nations oft remember Prussian ban. 
And all his pirate deeds, that Hate did plan. 

This, was it, that first started certain train 
Of circumstances, that the years made plain ; 
As the United States, — protesting long, — 
Then threw her forces in with Allies strong. 

Ah, Germany ! How foolish thou hast been 
In thy *' Diplomacy''! Thou might 'st have seen 
Such deeds as these, — like those 'gainst Belgian 

race,— 
Would rouse the world, and thee full soon abase ! 

If thou had 'st had moral diplomacy. 
Thou might 'st have kept England within the lee 
Of her own shores ! Nor forced United States, 
To launch her power 'gainst international hates ! 



AN EPIC STORY OF THE WORLD WAR 99 
4. THE SINKING OF THE LUSIT.VNIA. 

Look what thou'st done in this same fateful 

year! 
May has just come. The mating time is here. 
Men think of life, not death ! Of love not hate ! 
But thou, foul Hun! still think 'st of death and 

fate! 

Out from New York, May third, there grandly 

sailed. 
The * ' Lusitania, ' ' — pride of all ! — and hailed : — 
The fastest ship that ever sailed the sea ! 
But, — Death outstripped it! Hurried on by 

thee! 

The Germans knew she sailed, — ^had planned 

their deed, 
Before she left ! Had reckoned on her speed ! 
Knew where they'd meet her! Had the U-Boat 

wait! 
Then, hurled her to the sea's most dreadful fate ! 

May seventh, it was. Four days they've sailed 
in peace. 
The Irish coast is almost in their reach ! 
The day is perfect. May sun shines on all. 
None think that in such scene black death will 
fall. 



100 THE GATES OF JANUS 

'Tis two-fifteen! The luncheon's hurried 
through, 
That all may watch from deck the land long due. 
Children are playing games ! All trusted so, — 
There 's not a gun on board to fight a foe ! 

But hark ! From upper bridge there comes a 

cry: 
''Torpedo on the right!" Too late they fly! 
It strikes the ship I There's two loud shuddering 

shocks ! 
Where peace was, panic reigns, — as the ship 

rocks ! 

The Captain cries, *' Haste! Haste, and man 

the boats!" 
They're manned! — while, 'neath the sea, the 

U-Boat gloats, 
On such destruction foul ! He 's gained the cost ! 
In twelve brief minutes, 'neath the waves she's 

lost! 

Ah, scene of death! Ah, Hate's incarnate 

deed ! 
No men could wreak such Hell, — save Hunnish 

breed ! 
'Leven hundred sent to death, — ^in such short 

time! 
Men, women, tobies t — Those of yours and mine! 



AN EPIC STORY OF THE WORLD WAR 101 

Hark ! to the wail of tlie world's aching heart ! 
See! how the teardrops from her eyelids start! 
The world is sorrowing, while Hell laughs in 

glee! 
And Him joins in, — ^his hideous deed to see ! 

A brazen medal did the Prussians make, 
To celebrate this horror, that did shake 
Our souls with wrath! — Death grinning at a 

gate, 
Selling dread passports to such ruthless hate ! 

Vile Hun ! For this we '11 give thee passports 
too! 
Thou art not wanted with world Freemen true ! 
* ' Ephraim 's to idols joined ! Let him alone ! ' ' 
Let him with beasts, not men, henceforth then 
roam! 

The die is cast ! The Eubicon is crossed ! 
The world's against thee, now, and thou art lost ! 
Thou 'It never rehabilitate thyself again ! 
Thou art cast out of God ! Accurst of men ! 

5. THE DEADLOCK IN THE WEST. 

Meanwhile they're deadlocked on the Western 
line. 
All armies are entrenched, and lie supine 
Through all of Nineteen-Fifteen, — save for those 
Who sorties make and Prussian flanks oppose. 



102 THE GATES OF JANUS 

Did I say all? Forget not what's been told, — 
That Ypres' second fight, this year unfolds; 
Nor of advance at Neuve Chappelle, — 
"Where, massed artillery fire's, first, used so well. 

England is working now, with might and 
main, 
Munitions to prepare, that not in vain 
Our men may wait. Lloyd George is to the fore I 
He sends the shells ! He helps speed on the War ! 

Forget not, also, that great Lens attack. 
Where Anglo-French did grandly drive foe back ! 
And, though, at Loos, the English suffered 

much, — 
'Twas for the Right! To free from tyrant's 
clutch ! 

Then, too, occurred that field of Vimy Ridge, 
Where British, under French, fresh battles give. 
This was that strange fight, — on, and under 

ground, 
Where they took deepest trench as well as 

mound ! 

'Twas there the sapper at his best appeared. 
In mines and tunnels, furious spurts, Hun 

feared, — 
As foe blew up positions thought too strong, 
E 'er to be taken. Such did not last them long ! 



AN EPIC STORY OF THE WORLD WAR 103 

This is a War, where every man they need ; 
Not soldiers only, — cooks, — religious creed ! 
Sappers, photographers, Y. M. C. A. ! 
Knights of Columbus, *' Tommy- Waacs" so gay! 

E'en, the Salvationists, stopped from usual 

work. 
Turned in as cooks, — ^they would no labor 

shirk ! 
Pies, doughnuts, cakes, they made, for soldiers 

there ! — 
And made them, gave them, every time with 

prayer ! 

Aye ! Let our praise, to these be also given ; — 
Men, women serving, — as if serving Heaven! 
Hid from the world, in lowly tasks they toil. 
They too are saving Liberty's free soil! 

6. THE MURDER OF EDITH CAVELL. 

Ah ! And forget not, in this fateful year, 
Edith Cavell, in glory doth appear ! 
As she is seized, — to Hun's most lasting shame; — ■> 
Tried as a spy, and, then, most foully slain ! 

And on what did she spy ? — on suffering men ! 
On men who needed help ! — which she gave them 
So freely ! — ^to Belgians, English, French, — 
Ah, how she gave herself I To what great length ! 



104 THE GATES OF JANUS 

And, ere she died, — condemned to '^Kultur's" 
goal ! — 
She all forgave ! To God consigned her soul ! 
' ' I must endure ! I must not hate ! ' ' she said, 
And, gladly, died, for saving those who fled. 

Compare such words of hers with those so 

base. 
Stamped on each Prussian soldier's * token's" 

face: 
^ ' Strike ! Strike to kill ! Kill many as ye may ! ' ' 
* ' No questions will be asked in Judgment Day ! ' ' 

Inhuman Hun ! In Judgment Day so dread, 
What visions will rise 'gainst thee from the 

dead ! 
The Lusitania's victims! Belgium's Hell! 
And the pure soul of martyred Nurse Cavell ! 

Ah, woman brave ! Ah, mother heart so true ! 
The world is honored as it honors you ! 
Proud tears we shed, as we, with glory, tell. 
The deathless deeds of brave Edith Cavell ! 

7. THE CAPTURE OF THE GERMAN 
COLONIES. 

Remember too, that in this *' quiet year," 
For England, — there in France, — ^she's filled 

with fear 
The Hun in Africa ! Where Botha takes 
The German South- West lands as War 's estates ! 



AN EPIC STORY OF THE WORLD WAR 105 
And if I have not time to later state. 



How he lost all his colonies so great, — 
In Africa, and Islands of the Sea, — 
Know, I Ve to tell of greater things to be. 

Yet, let me here now mention General 
Smuts ; — 
His deeds in Afric's land, against foul gluts 
Of Prussian passion ! In that land remote 
He drove the Hun from all the South East coast. 

Nine hundred thousand miles, in square, they 
held,— 
Throughout all Africa. But, now, they're felled 
From their possession, — ^by the fiery deeds 
Of British Boers, whom brave De Smuts thus 
leads. 

In all of Africa there's nothing left! 
Togo ! the Cameroons ! Africa South-West, — 
With South-East Africa ! — all, all they owned, 
Is gone! — because brave men the right en- 
throned ! 

If, e'en old enemies. Great Britain can. 
Thus, well amalgamate, and win the van 
With them, — 'gainst Prussian wrong and Hun 

ill-doers !— 
Hail, to the British ! and, thrice hail, the Boers ! 



lOe THE GATES OF JANUS 

Gone, also, boasted Island holdings grand : — 
Samoan Group, and Kaiser Wilhelm 's Land ; 
The Mariannes, Pelews, and Bismareks' reach; 
The Marshalls, Solomans, and Carolines' white 
beach ! 

WeVe swept the sea not onty of his ships, 
Bnt of his Islands too ! — where Ocean dips 
From West to East! Through all earth's wide 

spread land, 
He's nothing left, — save where home bound 'ries 

stand ! 

8. VALE ! SIR JOHN FRENCH I AVE ! SIR 
DOUGLAS HAIG! 

The year now closes with last act that's 
cheered ! 
Sir Douglas Haig, has to the world appeared, 
As leader of all British force in France. 
Sir John French is called home for high advance. 

Brave French! Though thine has not been, 

here, the lot 
Of conqueror, — thou wilt not be forgot ! 
We'll praise thy deeds at Mens and Le Gateau, 
And all thou did'st, with Joffre, at Marne's grim 

flow! 

Thy brilliant fight, with Hun, upon the Aisne, 
Has also won for thee a deathless fame. 
Though thou retirest here, thou art not through ! 
Thy valedictory is: ''Still will I do !" 



AN EPIC STORY OF THE WORLD WAR 107 

Now Haig! Thou^rt in the van, where thou 
shonld 'st be ! 
Much will depend on thee to set world free, 
From Hun's oppression, and from bloody wrong! 
Show all thy valiant soldier soul ! Be strong ! 

A year, is just before thee, that will try 
Thy heart, soul, strength, — as brave men nobly 

die! 
But thou wilt win, if thou to end endure ; 
Fight on ! Strive hard ! The Victory is sure ! 



BOOK VI. 

1. THE SIEGE OF VERDUN. 

The year Nineteen-Sixteen is but begun, 
When the Crown Prince determines, — at Ver- 
dun, — 
To win his way, through force, to heart of 

France, 
Seize Paris and o'erthrow the world's advance! 

But, at Verdun, Petain in fury met 
This braggart, — and immediately was set 
The stage for action and for deeds sublime, — 
Such as earth's seldom witnessed in all time! 

As, at the Marne, such victory was won, 
So, at the massive fortress of Verdun, 
Another deed for Freedom did emerge. 
That made the world's heart beat with quicker 
surge ! 

This fight's to last, not for brief day, or week, 
But ten long months ! — as Crown Prince tries to 

wreak, 
His vengeance on that brave, devoted band ! 
He's filled with rage that they dare Mm with- 
stand I 

109 



no THE GATES OF JANUS 

Look, now, how struggle at Verdun occurs: 
It is important stro^'ghold on the Meuse. 
It well commands her heights — the hills be- 
yond, 
The plains of Woevre and bold Montfaueon. 

Argonne 's deep woods are West, Briey is East, 
With all it 's mineral treasures to be reached. 
Lorraine 's not far beyond, nor St. Mihiel, — 
Nor Metz, that German frontiers guards so well. 

You see how much this strong position means. 
It is a constant menace ! And it seems 
To mock the power of Prussia, — threatening, 

grim. 
Her fair frontiers ! They must the fortress win ! 

To guard Verdun still better than before, 
Gen'ral Serrail, — when Liege fell in war, — 
Had planned for thirty-six extending lines 
Of trenches deep, in ^ye mile close confines. 

The key positions are grim *^ Pepper Hill," 
That leads to Douaumont; — a ravine's "fill," 
Near Fort de Vaux,— well called '^Ravine of 

Death"; 
Then "Dead Man's Hill, "—told of with bated 

breath ! 



AN EPIC STORY OF THE WORLD WAR 111 

Nov/, mark these key positions : On the North 
Is "Pepper Hill/' — with Donaumont set forth 
Just South. Then Fort de Vaux, upon the East, 
While "Dead Man's Hill,"— on West,— though 
last's not least! 

'Tis "Dead Man's Hill" that is the key of all. 
On this they struggle most. Here thousands fall. 
This, — ^though in part, — ^they never gain as 

whole. 
This gained ! — they would have gained Verdun, 
— their goal ! 

Four phases are to show in this great fight : 
Three planned by Prussians, one by French for 

Right. 
One to take Douaumont ; one Fort De Vaux. 
Bf third they seek o'er "Dead Man's Hill" to 
go. 

The Crown Prince plans attack North, East 

and West ; 
He's cannon planted,— of Krupp's largest, 

best, — 
In Forges' Woods, at Gremilly, Spincourt. 
To withstand these, Verdun must much endure ! 

Eighteen divisions spread o'er seven mile 
front, — 
From Brabant to Herbebois, — and he doth hunt 
For means to fully girdle strong Verdun. 
His plans are laid! Look! — now the fight's be- 
gun! 



112 THE GATES OF JANUS 

There are but three divisions, 'gainst eighteen ! 
But, these are French! — And they have long had 

spleen 
Against base Prussia, — ^who did rend their land, 
In Eighteen-Seventy. They have vengeance 
planned ! 

They'll stand! They'll -fi-gU! They've long 

been wanting this ! 
Though they are three against eighteen, — ^they're 

fit 
For all! They gird themselves! They know 

they'll win! 
They'll punish Prussia, base, for all her sin! 

Hark, how the cannons roar ! The fight is on ! 
From sixty batteries they roar as one ! 
In all War's history there's never been, 
Such great bombardment, one lone fort to win ! 

As fight starts on the North, — ^tis '* Pepper 

Hill" 
The Crown Prince storms, — and Douaumont so 

still. 
The Kaiser watches from a neighboring height ; — • 
He sees how weak is all his power 'gainst Right ! 

The guns still roar, but, now, the Infantry 
Pour on the trenches, and great valor see, — 
As Frenchmen, overmatched, still braveh^ stand ! 
They fight for Liberty and their loved land ! 



AN EPIC STORY OF THE WORLD WAR 113 

The Prussians, now, have taken first line 
trench ; — 
They've taken second, though with loss immense ! 
For seven days they fight! Fresh force comes 

on! 
They fail at ** Pepper Hill" but win Douaumont. 

The Kaiser's gloating as he sees the sight ! 
He thinks the Yict'ry's his! That his great 

might 
Has won ! But, Petain comes, in fiery haste, 
The day to save, and Prussia's power to waste ! 

He orders counter drive ! The French storm 

forth! 
They take Douaumont s trenches, South and 

North ! 
The fort's beleaguered! They're at deadlock 

now. 
Douaumont shall be theirs, — the Frenchmen 

vow! 

Thus ends first phase, while Vict'ry still en- 
thrones 
French banners, — as they fight for land and 

homes ! 
*'They shall not pass!" — ^the hardy Frenchmen 

cry: 
They have not passed, though thousands nobly 
die! 
8 



114 THE GATES OF JANUS 

The second phase begins in March* bleak 



Now *'Dead Man's Hill*' 's the prize. Prussian 

essays 
To conquer it. From West they swarming come, 
With twenty thousand troops! They think 

they've won! 

They take the lower ridge ! The top 's still held 
By valiant French ! In twelve days ' fight, they 

weld 
Their forces closer, — when again attacked 
By raging Prussians, thus against them massed. 

And, now, these storm, once more, brave ^'Pep- 
per Hill." 

Here they 're repulsed, while French their thou- 
sands kill. 

Nine Infantry divisions, in these drives, . 

Are sacrificed, by Prussians, to Allies. 

The third phase starts in May, and now they 
go 
To take "Ravine of Death" and Fort de Vaux 
A whole division's slaughtered in ravine; 
They win it, — but de Vaux still stands serene ! 

Niveile has taken charge, after Petain. 
He stormed Douaumont, just as he began ; — 
Enters the Fort but cannot hold it long, — 
The Prussian is too well entrenched, — too strong. 



AN EPIC STORY OF THE WORLD WAR 11-5 

They opened sixty Batteries on ''Death's 

Hill" 
They clear the top, but cannot take it, still ! 
The French hold Southern slopes! .Fight hand 

to hand ! 
The top remains a barren '*No Man's Land I" 

Raynal's de Vaux's Commandant, and he 
leaves 
Nothing undone to outwit their grim siege. 
For six days he 's cut off from water, — food, — 
But still he held them back ! Bravely withstood ! 

And, long he might have held, but now they 

use 
Hell's blast, in liquid fire, — War's worst abuse! 
Starving and famished! — burned with liquid 

fire — 
They must surrender, — ^yield to Prussian ire ! 

Here one great act, we must to Hun award, — 
Few other doth he through this War afford ! — 
He now refuses Eaynal 's sword, to show 
His admiration of such noble foe ! 

Ah Hun ! If thou had'st thus considerate been 
In all thy fighting ! — we would not have seen 
Such outrages in Belgium, — Poland too, — 
Where, Hell itself ne'er thought such deeds to 
do! 



116 THE GATES OF JANUS 

But, we are grateful, for this act of thine 
Towards Raynal, and de Vaux's brave men sub- 
lime. 
We are encouraged that e'en thou, base Hun, 
Can glory give, w^hen such great deeds are done ! 

The fourth phase is one planned by daring 
French. 
They waited long, but now begin at length. 
Counter offensive 'gainst the Prussian power. 
October starts, — December strikes French hour ! 

Nivelle, East of the Meuse, North of Verdun, 
Makes furious sorties 'gainst the ruthless Hun. 
Retakes Douaumont ! Captures Fort de Vaux ! 
In one day, takes three thousand from the foe ! 

He's called to chief command, of armies 
French. 
Mangin succeeds him and keeps up offence ! 
Takes Prussian trenches on a six mile front ! 
Wins prisoners, nine thousand, in long hunt ! 

The Crown Prince yields! He sees 'tis little 

use 
For him to fight there, even if he loose 
The power, 'gainst them, of all his Hunnish 

band! 
He is defeated ! Seeks some easier stand ! 



AN EPIC STORY OF THE WORLD WAR 117 

Thus, was the Viet'ry at Verdun procured. 
It, greatest blessings, for the World, insured ; 
Fresh courage gave the Allies bold and brave ; 
Kept France from Prussian! Honor from its 
grave ! 

'*Passeront pas!" The Frenchmen nobly 

cried : 
They passed not ! — for these Frenchmen bravely 

died!— 
Rather than yield the way for Prussian lance. 
Their loved to slay, and pierce the soul of 

France ! 

As, brave Horatius, kept the bridge of old ; — 
Leonidas, Thermopylae did hold; — 
So kept the French the fortress of Verdun, 
And held at bay the baffled, thwarted Hun ! 

If, brave Horatius and Leonidas, 
Deserve the praises of the world's great mass; 
Let us, to these, award the meed of praise. 
Who nobly held Verdun, our Cause to save ! 

Petain! Nivelle! Mangin! French soldiers 

grand ! 
We greet ye ! Hail ye Saviours of your land ! — 
And of the Cause, by Allied strength espoused. 
Saved, once, by Belgium! Twice, by France, 

aroused ! 



118 THE GATES OF JANUS 

And, thou, Verdun ! Thou evermore wilt be, 
Linked in our thoughts with noblest History ! 
As here thou stopped the savage, raging Hun ! 
Hail, to the Victors 1 Hail, glorious Verdun ! 

2. THE FIRST AND SECOND BATTLES OF 
THE SOMME. 

But, now, while this has been transpiring here, 
Still other deeds of glory do appear. 
Upon the Somme a battle long has waged, — • 
Since July hath the world with beauty blazed. 

Ye Freemen! Give your heart's attention 
here ! 
As I recount brave deeds of Allies dear, 
Who fought with Haig upon the river Somme, 
For God and country ! Eights of man and home ! 

Now Haig! Thy time has come! Thy mettle 

show, 
Against this bestial, this outrageous foe ! 
Here let thy name be made 1 By deeds, acquire 
That brightest honor, — ^that has passed through 

fire ! 

Have ye the picture of the river Somme ? 
It runs between Amiens and Perrone ; 
Thence South to Ham and North to St. Quentin. 
This is the sector where the fight began. 



AN EPIC STORY OF THE WORLD WAR 119 

Tis mostly North of these the fight is waged, 
Where French and British there, with force, es- 
sayed 
To drive the Hun far back ; renew their lines, 
And drive them forth from all of French con- 
fines. 

The English and the French, that ** quiet 
year," 
Did much to strengthen forces, and appea,r 
With better plans to overthrow the Hun. 
They use them here ! That's why the fight's be- 
gun! 

A million and a half, the British have. 
Stretched twenty five miles long, in Belgium 

sad, — 
And sixty five miks further on French soil, — 
From Flander's line to Somme, where they now 

toil. 

The French have built large guns, to blast 

their way . 
Against the ** bomb-proof s, " and make them 

their prey ! 
They've built their **soixante-quinze,'' mobile 

and strong, 
Rapid to fire and be as quickly gone ! 



120 THE GATES OF JANUS 

Since Nineteen-Fifteen, British swiftly made 
Their ammunition reach its highest * ' wave. ' ' 
They're making now, more than six hundred 

times, 
What they made year before, for their great 

lines ! 

Those lines are stretched here, for this battle 
great, 
From Gommecourt to Estrees' fair estate, — 
In smiling Picardy ! For thirty miles, 
They lie in beauteous fields, which War defiles ! 

To get the theatre these struggles own, 
You must draw line from Bapaume South to 

Chaulnes ; 
To Perrone East, back to Bapaume again. 
This triangle is filled with fighting men ! 

Perrone 's the centre. East, and object huge, 
Of this great strife ; that has grim men endued, 
With courage fierce. Bapaume is next desired. 
With Combles, Chaulnes, — ^if they can be ac- 
quired ! 

July the First, has, now, just fresh emerged. 
From yesterday, — when the grim battle's surge 
Begins, — with thund 'rous sound of myriad guns, 
That overwhelm, astound, the sleeping Huns ! 



AN EPIC STORY OF THE WORLD WAR 121 

^^Bomb-proofs/' ere thought inviolate to 
stand, 

Are smashed, like kindling, by big gun's de- 
mand. 

The lighter ''three inch," bark their challenge 
bold. 

Hell ne'er, such noise infernal, surely holds! 

The British, have their line from Gommeeourt 
To Mametz South, and on the foe they pour 
Both shot and shell. They take their first line 

trench ! 
Their second! third and fourth! — ^with bloody 

wrench. 

First day they take Mametz, Montauban too ! 
On seven mile front, British have broken through 
South-East from Fricourt, — ^towards Perrone at 

length. 
They cannot take it! They need greater 
strength ! 

Meanwhile, the French, North of the Somme, 
Have taken Curlu, small, and Hem, alone. 
South of the Somme, they've taken Dompierre, 
Beequincourt, Flay, Herbecourt, Estrees the 
fair! 



122 THE GATES OF JANUS 

North of Thiepval, British are nonplused. 
They are turned back, though brilliantly they 

rushed, 
Again and yet again, on fo.e they hate. 
He can't be moved, nor they gain Bapaume'a 

gate! 

Three weeks they fight, with varying success. 
But little's gained ! They strive to onward press ; 
Yet, they can make no farther headway, then. 
They must await fresh aid, — new force of men. 

Through August, thus, a battle drawn appears. 
Each side is busy at their fronts and rears, — 
Placing new forces, planning greater drive ; 
Then Allies hurl on Hun their great surprise ! 

The Battle-planes have been developed far ; 
They're used at Somme, the enemy to jar 
From strong positions by the bombs they drop ; 
They're gun's '*eyes" too, — ^to find foe's weakest 
spot. 

But now, another arm is used to fright 
The Hun from his morale, in Second Fight 
At Somme ! — which starts on second of Septem- 
ber 's days, — 
He sees its dread approach^ and, fearing, prays ! 



AN EPIC STORY OF THE WORLD V/AR 133 

It is the ''Tank,"— the dreaded British 
^'Tank'M— 
Built in America, from "Tractors" lank ! — 
Armored and turreted with guns, en masse ! 
They run ! They fear to wait and stop its pass ! 

As, at the Siege of Carthage, Romans used 
Their *' Tortoises, " — ^vast iron scale'd brood! — 
That moved on wheels, with men beneath them 

set; 
So, now, these ** Tanks," the foe most grimly 

met. 

And, as, at Carthage, ''Tortoises" turned back 
Fire, boiling water, missies without lack ; 
So, now, the ''Tanks" stopped not at machine 

gUJlS, 

Nor fire, nor wire, — ^nor trench, — ^to reach the 
Huns! 

Onward they plow, like great Leviathans I 
Trees, fences, — trenches crash on every hand ! 
The Prussian flees ! The rout is panic rank ! 
He dare not stay! Naught can withstand the 
^*Tank"! 

From Thiepval to Combles they crashed 

through. 
The Hun's dismayed, — overwhelmed by deeds 

they do ! 
Courcelette falls ! Martinpuich ! Merval ! 
Combles is last, with Northern Thiepval ! 



124 THE GATES OF JANUS 

Fayolle gains Combles, with brave Mielieler, 
While British Gough and Buttler win the day 
At Thiepval. For this, France honors them, 
With special medals, — for War's bravest men! 

French, now, fair Chaulnes besiege, but Huns 

endure, 
Though Frenchmen take Pressoir and Ablain- 

court. 
Then English storm Bapaume! It counts for 

naught, — 
Though they win Eaucourt and grim * ' Stuff Ee- 

doubt." 

They take Le Sars,— just four short miles 
away- 
They take Divion, — Beaumont in one day ! 
They win at Beaucourt, — Grandcourt also yields ; 
But, still, they fail to win most longed for fields ! 

Bapaume and Chaulnes, with central, strong 
Perrone, 

Still stand intact, — still, there, Huns power en- 
throne ! 

But for their price, — seven hundred thousand 
men 

Have paid in full! The War's 'gainst them 
again ! 



AN EPIC STORY OF THE WORLD WAR 125 

They know it ! — for they Ve brought von Hin- 
denburg, 
In haste, from East to West, — to stop the surge 
Of vast defeat ! Yet all is now in vain, 
Though Hindenburg succeeds von Falkenhayn! 

Ah, Hun! In vain thou bring 'st thy **Iron 
Man!'^ 
He's only ^'Iron'' on a wooden plan! 
As Prussians, to his lumber statue led, 
Drive nails into his wooden frame, — and head! 

He's driven back upon the Western Front! 
Fails at Verdun! Finds this not "Russian 

Hunt"! 
And, though he makes advances, still he's held. 
As French and English power with Belgium 

weld. 

Thus, were these two great battles of the 

Somme 
Fought by the French, and men from British 

home. 
Advance was small, yet they gained golden 

mean, 
Hun's power to crush, as is, thus, quickly seen : — 



126 THE GATES OF JANUS 

By these attempts, they drew lirni forces 
West,— 
From Eussia, — and, thus, did at once effect 
Those Vict'ries great, on all the Russian lines, — 
As they drove Austria back from their confines. 

They also, thus, relieved brave, grim Verdun, 
From greater fury of the baffled Hun ! 
Wore down the Prussian forces, 'til they're 

weak 
For other Allies on them power to wreak ! 

Ah! What a field was that in Northern 

France ! 
In Flanders and Alsace where they advance ! 
They fought, — ^they died ! They gladly paid the 

toll! 
Their names are written high on Fame's great 

scroll ! 

There, Donald Hankey, like Joan of Are, 
Had visions, as he reached the Victor 's mark ; 
Exulting cried : " 1 've seen with eyes of God ! ' ' 
And, glorying, fell, upon the blood stained sod ! 

''In Flander's Field," brave Colonel Jolin 

Mc Rae 
Fell at his post; — ^but, ere he reached that day, 
He wrote : ' ' Take up our quarrel with the f oe ! " 
And with this challenge died : ' ' Where Poppies 

Grow"! 



AN EPIC STORY OF THE WORLD WAR 127 

That challenge reached the world ! All quickly 
cry: 
*'We'll take their places, as these heroes die! 
' ' Their quarrel, just, is ours, and we will win,— 
**As they did, at the Somme, 'gainst Prussian 
sin!" 

Brave soldiers of the Sommo! Brave Gen'rals 
there ! 
We give ye but your own, when we declare. 
That what ye did, those days, was to the world, 
Man's best incentive, — ^towards his flag, un- 
furled ! 

"We greet ye. Heroes ! Honor you as such ! 
Shed tears of pride, for those thus brought to 

dust! 
Praise your devotion to your land and home, — 
Aye, and to world ! — as for them ye won Somme ! 

3. THE BATTLE OP JUTLAND. 

'Twas also, in these summer months, there 
came 
Great news, not only from the land, but main, — 
As Prussian Navy, once again, doth cope 
With British Sea-power, and, — with greater 
hope! 



128 THE GATES OF JANUS 

Come, Freemen! Gather 'round me while I 
tell 
Of mighty deeds, by those, who, fought so 

well,— - 
That Time was startled! History's great pen 
Was stopped! — as she, amazed, watched vai'rous 
men! 

Then, filled with Inspiration at such deeds. 
She furious writes, with facile, flowing reed! 
Sets down the record, as she saw it there. 
And high inscribes it on her pages fair. 

Look o'er her shoulder! You may see the 
page, 
That filled her with such wondering amaze ! 
This, is Jier statement, of these deeds immense; 
She puts it thus : — ^AU in the present tense : 

'* Attention, world ! A fight's now to the fore, 
"Surpassing all! Greatest in all Sea War! 
* ' Off Jutland 's rugged coast the scene is set. 
''The ships are gathered as at Neptune's beck. 

"Look, now, Trafalgar! to thy laurels bright! 
' ' Mycale ! Salamis ! yield up your right 
' ' To highest place ! This fi.ght, shall be to men, 
"Hist'ry's crown jewel, in Fame's diadem! 



AN EPIC STORY OF THE WORLD WAR 129 

"It is a May day ! The great Fleet rides by 
"In her full glory, neath a Spring-time sky. 
"The 'Galatea' sights the wary Hun! 
* * Sir David Beatty wires : ' The fight 's begun ! ' 

"The Hun, — now brave, because of greater 
force, 
* ' Seeks not to run, but kill without remorse ! 
"The * Indef atigible ' he strikes down, 
"And the * Queen Mary,' — ship of great renown. 



a 
n 



The * Nestor' and the 'Nomad' bravely go, 
Against superior force, to stop the foe. 
They're beaten! Find a glorious, watery- 
grave ! — 
"But take two German ships beneath the wave! 

"Brave Beatty, signals, quickly: 'Nor'-Nor'- 

West!' 

"And goes to meet von Hipper, with great zest. 

"One German sinks! Another, now, is lost! — 

* ' As Beatty Eastward turns. Hun pays the cost ! 

"The wireless, now, has brought bold Jellicoe. 
"He adds the Grand Fleet's power against the 

foe; 
"Sends Hood to lead with the 'Invincible', 
" It 's struck ! It sinks ! Great God ! — what woe- 
ful ill! 
9 



130 THE GATES OF JANUS 

*'The powers of Hell seem now all loosed on 

them. 
''The ship * Defence' proves no defense, just 

then! 
**They sink her with a storm of shot and shell! 
**The 'Warspite' saves the 'Warrior' from such 

Hell! 

*'By jamming of her rudder, she is swerved, 
*'From out the battle line, and so she served 
*'As shield for * Warrior', — saved from further 

wound ; — 
''She later sinks, as she is homeward bound. 

''Though sinking, thus, these British ships 

amain, 
' ' The baffled Prussian knows his task is vain ; 
"Prays that the night would come, his path to 

hide, 
"That he may safely reach the Baltic tide ! 

"But now, the Grand Fleet, under Jellicoe, 
"Keeps back the Prussian, from where'er he'd 

go. 
"It mainly keeps him from his Baltic host, 
"While Beatty keeps him from the Jutland 

coast. 



AN EPIC STORY OF THE WORLD WAR 131 

**Tlie dusk comes on, and still the fight's 
against 

The English! — as * Black Prince's' loss, in- 
censed 

Their leaders brave! The 'Tipperary' sinks! 

The 'Turbulent' goes down o'er ocean's brink! 



'*The * Ardent/ 'Fortune,' ' Sparrowhawk ' go 
down; 
*'Also the 'Shark,' — in glorious renown! 
' ' Such loss, so great, will surely break their will ! 
"But no ! Look close ! England is at it still ! 

*' 'The trouble with the English', one once 

said: 
Is that they never know when ' ' beaten dead ' ' ! 
They rise again! Hold on, like bull dogs 

grim! 
' ' * And when, — to all, — defeated I — Start to 

win!' 






it 

iC 

a 

(C 



Thus was it now ! They held such losses nil, 
As long as they 'd a man, or ship, or skill. 
To rally all, on one grand, glorious stroke ! 
They scorned defeat! They'd Vict'ry still 
evoke ! 

' * Look now ! Through all the gath 'ring smoke 
and murk, 
"What is it that their eyes see on them lurk? 
"It is the 'Lutzow,' greatest pride of Hun, 
"By her the battle will be lost or won! 



i32 TPIE GATES OF JANUS 

*'Down she comes steaming on the battle line! 
^ ' On her the British guns beat dreadful chime 
''Of clangor wild! See now! She stops! She 

shrinks ! 
''She's hit a score of times! She flames! She 
sinks ! 

**The 'Pommern' comes amain, — ^not half her 
size, — 
"She's driven down in flames, as vict'ry 's prize ! 
' ' The ' Eostok, ' — lighter, speedier, — ^tries to run ; 
"She's sunk, while her retreat is but begun! 

"Look how the 'Ebling' tries to steal away! 
' ' Alas for her ! — she 's but another prey 
' ' Of strategy, and sea manoeuvres grand ! 
"She's overwhelmed! — flaming on ev'ry hand! 



"The ^Weisbaden' now seeks to run afoul 
"The enemies' great ships; — begins to prowl 
* ' In darkness on them ! — ^but the dark is lit 
"With flaming wrath! She's also in Death's 
grip! 

* ' The * Frauenlob, ' — ^the lightest of them all, — 
"Thinks she can play with death and yet not 

fall!— 
"Stings like a wasp, darts quickly from her 

prey; 
' ' Is over-reached ! Falls ! Dies within the fray ! 



AN EPIC STORY OF THE WORLD WAR 133 

'*Five other boats, of the torpedo class, 
*'Are finished, one by one, with squadrons 

massed 
'* Against them. The others, turning, flee! 
' ' The fight is won ! 'Twas Death or Victory ! 

*'Ah, rugged Jutland! What a story thou 
''Can'st tell, of valor, under Death's dark prow ! 
' ' Of Beatty, Jellicoe, Arbuthnot, Hood, — 
**And all those sailors brave who might with- 
stood ! 

** Their deeds will long be told in sounding 
song ! 

*^ Their names be written high, where Heroes 
throng ! 

*' Their mem'ry will, throughout all time, pre- 
vail ! 

*'They won for all the world! Hail, Heroes! 
Hail!" 



4. THE DEATH OF LORD KITCHENER. 

'Twas this defeat, that, later, made them wait 
For Kitchener, embarked, on 'fairs of State, 
For Russia, — that he there might plan their 

*' Drives" 
'Gainst Prussian horde, who still the Slav de- 
rides. 



134 THE GATES OF JANUS 

Four days have passed. Enraged by Jutland's 
shame, 
They lie in wait upon the billowy main, — 
Their wrath to hurl against the pregnant head 
Of all their woes, — who Britain's forces led. 

The ** Hampshire" comes in view, and, on her 

deck, 
Britain's Commander walks, with head erect. 
There comes a shuddering shock! — engulfing 

wave! 
The Hero of Sudan finds martyr's grave! 

Brave Kitchener! We hail thee! Greatest 
mind 
That England has evolved in modern time, — 
For strategy and War's elaborate plan, — 
Thou wast, in thy great day, her Super-man ! 

And now the Orkney Isles thy requiem sing ! 
Yet that U-Boat, or Mine, to thee did'st bring, 
Not death ! — but glorious Immortality ! 
Thou art not dead ! Thou live'st in History ! 



BOOK VII. 

1. AMERICA AROUSED. 

'Twas just as this foul deed our wrath evoked, 
That German submarines new rage provoked, 
As **Deutschland" crosses o'er Atlantic's 

breadth, 
Defying Navies, storms and ocean's depth. 

She lands at Baltimore in U. S. A. 
And makes America fresh heed now pay- 
To this great War ; as Hun shows how her coast, 
Can easily be reached by Prussian host. 

She thinks of it still more October eight, 
When six great merchant steamships meet their 

fate, 
Off East Nantucket,— by ' ' U-Fif ty-Three " ;— 
She sees by this just what her fate may be ! 

Then, is it, that the Mastiff's cry is heard! 
Then, is it, that all hearts are deeply stirred, 
As, that great War Dog, o'er the Sea has come. 
To 'rouse his masters ere worse deeds are done ! 

America ! Thou hast most tardy been, 
And tardier still, for all thine eyes have seen 
Of wrong and infamy, — oppression's woe, — 
Hurled on weak nations by a bloody foe! 
135 



136 THE GATES OF JANUS 

Thou heard 'st the cry of Afric's slaving 
horde ; 
The swish of "bloody Weyler" ^s tyrant sword! 
Thou leap 'st to save the slaves, set Cuba free, 
"Was bleeding Belgium less than these to thee ? 

Thou had'st thy troubles! Yea, we know thy 

plight : 
A melting pot for nations, who, need light, — 
Strength and cohesion, — from thy teaching 

grave. 
Ere they are fit to help, to fight, to save I 

Thou must be patient, careful, just and wise, 
Before thou start 'st on any great emprize; 
Draw, alien children, heart and soul to thee. 
Ere, thou, with them, can set weak nations free. 

And, then, — thou bearest much before thou'rt 
waked I 
How much thou bore before our fathers staked 
Their all at Lexington I — at Sumter brave I — 
At Santiago, from the Spaniard's rage! 

And much, we know, with patience, thou hast 
borne. 
Of Hun's atrocities and Prussian scorn, — 
Against thyself, — as wxll as woeful plight, 
Of Serb and Belgian, from Teutonic might. 



AN EPIC STORY OF THE WORLD WAR 137 

Their devlish U-Boats, swept the open sea 
Of thy most peaceful craft ! The ' ' Gulflight ' ' 's 

plea, 
**Aneona'' 's too and ''Lusitania" 's woe 
Still, did not drive thee, mad, against the foe! 

Not in blind rage, then, did'st thou cast the 

die 
For War ! Thou pray 'dst for Peace ^ and thought 

it nigh ! 
But, when all hope for Right and Peace had 

fled. 
Flaming with wrath, thou call'st thy Freemen 

dread ! 

How they responded ! North, South, East and 
West 

Came rushing at thy call, with furious zest! 

From San Diego unto Sandy Hook, 

They thundering came! The plains and moun- 
tains shook! 

And now, they're lined with Allies strong, 
Against the Hun, atrocity and wrong ! 
America's brave Freemen set to save, 
Their weaker brethren from the fiend and knave ! 

So, we forgive thee all thy long delay ; — 
Thank God, we lived to see this glorious day, — 
When brave America, unselfish comes 
Into world battle 'gainst the treach 'rous Huns ! 



138 THE GATES OF JANUS 

But, mark, America ! The Prussian lance 
Of wrath and hate, now, most Against thee's ad- 
vanced ! 
To thee, now, more than England, with power 

great, 
They dedicate another *'Hymn of Hate!" 

They were so oily gracious to us, when, 
Bernstorff and Dernburg represented them! 
While Boy-Ed, with his sly and treach'rous wile, 
Masked his fell purpose 'neath a Prussian smile I 

These were the patrons foul of Pride and 
Lies, — 
Sent here to aid, — and soon o 'er Nation flies 
A cloud of ** Propaganda," black and base, 
Exuding falsehood, watering ** Pride of Place"! 

They told of what we were and what we 'd be. 
If we would listen to them and keep free 
^rom this great War ! That, it was not our part 
To help the Englisli, but— fill up trade's Mart! 

They showed the horrors of outrageous war, 
Said this was worse than all that was before I 
Appealed to mothers to save sons from death. 
Cried: ** Peace at any Price!" with great effect. 



AN EPIC STORY OF THE WORLD WAR 139 

The Alien and the Pacifist were 'roused. 
The bold ''I. W. W.'s" caroused 
On German gold! The tim'rous slacker, too, 
Was told how he might his **safe" course 
pursue ! 

A venal Press was sifted from the mass 
Of Patriot papers, paid, to bring to pass 
Corruption vile, through lies and pride of pelf ; — 
To preach: "The War's not ours! Pile up your 
wealth!" 

Peace meetings great were held, — paid for hy 

them 
Who break the peace, and foist foul War on men ! 
While Statesmen, high in national esteem, 
Join with the *' Claque," and, manhood thus 

demean. 

And, now, plots thick and fast are sown by 

spies. 
Who scurry fast through every State, — ^where 

lies 
A chance for injury ! The calmer spell 
Has vanished! Now they loose the fiends of 

Hell! 

Ships, bridges, factories are fired, amain! 
The plotters hurl on all a hellish train 
Of Prussian f rightfulness ! No one is safe. 
The country doubts all those of German race ! 



140 THE GATES OF JANUS 

Dernburg is banished, when he loud exults, 
In Lusitania's horror, that results 
In loss of o'er a thousand precious lives. 
He praised the deed ! — Our pity, great, decries ! 

One hundred and fourteen, from our own land, 
There went to death, by that same pirate hand ! 
Not only men but women, — infants small, 
All killed with hate, — ^by him who hateth all ! 

Lusitania! Ship of Destiny! 
Thou 'It ever be remembered, — and we'll see 
That thou'rt avenged! All this great loss and 

woe, 
But brings us nearer death grips with the foe ! 

Boy-Ed is also tracked in plots and wiles; 
He's sent to exercise his treach'rous smiles 
In Prussian court ! There best they 're exercised, 
Before a Kaiser who has Truth defied! 

Now Secretary Zimmerman begins 
That plot with Mexico, that is to win 
Her help against us, — if we start to war, — 
And give her land, she'd lost to us before. 

And then there comes that ruthless order grim. 
Of U-Boat warfare dread, now to begin. 
Again, in all its terrored ' ' Schrecklichkeit, " — 
That scorns all law and ignores Freedom's right ! 



AN EPIC STORY OF THE WORLD WAR 141 

We are to sail, only at Prussian nod! 
Obey her absolutely, like a God ! 
Put forth on certain days, in certain lane, 
Striped like a felon ! — or be foully slain ! 

2. AMERICA DECLARES WAR. 

This cuts the Gordian knot ! The die is east, 
For War's arbitrament, and plucks the mask 
From Prussian intrigue and from Prussian lie! 
The War is on ! We Germany defy ! 

April the Sixth, Nineteen-Seventeen, will be, — 
With *' Glorious Fourth," — twin days of Lib- 
erty, 
When we arose against iwo Prussian Kings; 
Declared our Independence! — clipped their 
wings ! 

Ah, how *'the heathen raged" when we for- 
sook 
The paths of ease, and, from our bodies shook 
The sloth of years! How they our cause 

maligned 
And sought new terrors, or new taunts to find ! 

They said, that we were weak, afraid to fight ! 
That we were selfish ; — cared but for our might 
In money making ! Had no men, ships, arms. 
Fit to do battle or to cause alarms! 



142 THE GATES OF JANUS 

They said, that we could never cross the Sea! 
That Europe was too far for us to be 
Of use to Allies! That their boats would sink 
Our transports, and, bring us to ruin 's brink. 

Our answer to these mouthings, all the world 
Reads, now, most plainly, as our flag's unfurled ! 
Our arms, our ships, our men, are soon made 

known. 
In such dread power, as shakes the Prussian 

throne ! 

Before a year had passed a million men, 
Trained and equipped, were fit to do again 
All that their fathers did at Lexington 
And Gettysburg, but, now, — against the Hun! 

They crossed the Sea! They braved the 
U-Boat 's power I 
A million and a half, — before the hour 
Had struck, for our brave lads to bear the brunt. 
Of War's red rage, — upon the Western Front! 

A Million and a half ! No transport lost ! 
Is this the way thou make'st us pay the cost 
Of thy displeasure, Prussian U-Boat dread? 
Or art thou sleeping ? Or art almost dead ? 



AN EPIC STORY OF THE WORLD WAR 143 

They land in France! — Brave France that 

fought for ns, 
And here left many in our hallowed dust ! — 
Given to our country, in its hour of need, 
The Cause of Freedom, — Human Rights to 

speed ! 

Aye, France! We're paying now our thanks, 
in part, 
For Rochambeau's and Lafayette's great heart! 
As they fought for our land, so, now, we're 

brought, — 
To fight for thee and thine I Set Hun at naught ! 

For Lafayette, we've sent thee Pershing, 

France ! 

For Rochambeau, Sims, and our ships, advance ! 

These faithful watch-dogs of the Sea and land, 

Are joined now with thee, heart and soul and 

hand! 

With England, Sims has joined his naval 
power. 
To thwart the submarine and bring the hour 
Of safety to the Seas ! So well he 's done 
That all our soldier ships have 'scaped the Hun ! 

With France, especially, Pershing is bound. 
And, when he landed, to the hallowed mound 
Of Lafayette he came, and o 'er his grave 
Cried: ''We're here, Lafayette! We're here 
to save ! ' ' 



lU THE GATES OF JANUS 

At old ' ' Chemin-des-Dames, " in the Cham- 
pagne, 
lu Alsace, and at Toul, near fair Lorraine, 
They stationed them, in four vast sectors, then, 
And, there, great deeds were done by our brave 
men. 

Three lads of ours: Hays, Enright, Greshem 

bold, 
Were first to fall, Demoerac}^ to hold! 
And now, *' somewhere in France,'' their bodies 

lie 
Honored as those who, glad, for Freedom die ! 

And others there were given the Croix de 
Guerre, — 
With Palms ! Still others : Medaille Militaire,-— 
For bravery and courage in the fight, — 
As they bore bloody baptism for the Right! 

This, was the skirmish line ! The test to come, 
Would greater be against the maddened Hun. 
When, not to check, but, to drive back the foe, 
Our lads would be sent forth, — and cheering go ! 

Cheer, then, for these ! Americans, be proud. 
That these your sons are by the Lord allowed, 
To fight in such great cause! They soon the 

scale 
Will turn to Viet'ry! Allies must prevail! 



AN EPIC STORY OF THE WORLD WAR 145 

3. WORLD AND WAR CHANGES. 

America! 'Tis well thou'rt now in line! 
The War 's just gained another lease of Time ! — 
As changes in the dynasties appear, — 
And in the cabinets, — preceding year. 

Just as thou camest in, there had gone out 
Hoary Franz Joseph, lost in death's dread bout! 
And, his grand-nephew, Austria's throne now 

takes. 
Anxious to win prestige, through War's grim 

stakes. 

Von Jagow has resigned, and Zimmerman 
Holds Foreign Office for the Fatherland. 
Asquith's retired, replaced by brave Lloyd 

George ; 
Ribot succeeds Briand, French power to forge. 

The Czar has been deposed, with Lvoff in 

place, 
As Premier of unstable Russian race. 
With Trotsky and Lenine to come, full soon, 
And sound the knell of proud, old Russia's 

doom! 

And, just as thou did'st enter, Douglas Haig, 
At last, reached that for which he long had 

prayed ! 
As in great March offense, he wins Bapaume 
.4nd thirteen hundred square miles on the 
Somme! 
10 



146 THE GATES OF JANUS 

He's gained more than, first, aimed for! 

Chaulnes, Perrone, 

"With Mont St. Quentin, — ^not far from the home 

Of Hindenburg's new line, — called by his name 

And destined to grow great, in next year's fame. 

This some have called the second fight of 

Somme. 
But, Huns fight not ! They're routed! Quickly 

roam, 
Behind new lines; — ^while French take Noyon, 

South, 
And Tergnier, — from La Fere, just two miles 

out! 

Came Arras' fight and Vimy Ridge once more, 
Yv^here they first Hindenburg's great line did 

bore; 
"Where Vimy town and Ridge fell by assault, 
And Haig, held all Hun line at serious fault. 

Then came the French offensive on the Aisne, 
"Where they the Prussians fight and win new 

fame. 
They drive them back on twenty-five mile front, 
From Rheims to Soissons under battle's brunt. 

Now, Hindenburg is at his last defense; 
He must fight here, or meet defeat immense! 
He lies upon his arms, strengthens his power, 
And waits for ''Spring Offensive," — and, his 
*'hour." 



AN EPIC STORY OF THE WORLD WAR U7 

'Tis here, Americans await his drives, 
With French and English, now their strong 

Allies ; — 
With Belgium, — and with Portugal, now in ! — 
And hosts of others set world's cause to win. 

4. THE CATALOGUE OF THE NATIONS 
AT WAR. 

And here, since I have catalogued before. 
The Furies fierce, and all the Dogs of War, 
I well might mention, now, those nations brave 
Set 'gainst the Hun, Humanity to save. 

''The Great World War," this has been justly 
named. 
For thirty-six world powers the War 's inflamed ! 
Thirty are in the fight, through State act done, — 
Six sever all relations with the Hun ! 

I have not told them in detail, 'till here, 
As some do not, until, thus late, appear. 
Some few are lacking yet, but, joined at last, 
I place them here, ere to fresh cleeds we've 
passed. 

Base Prussia! Be thou first, with horror, 
named. 
As cause of all this woe, against world aimed ! 
False, arrogant, a tyrant 'gainst the free. 
What does world's honor mean to thine, or thee? 



148 THE GATES OF JANUS 

As Xerxes did, with fury, beat the wave 
Of Hellespont, that dared his bridge to lave, 
With power, above the zephyr wind and tide,— 
And whelm it 'neath its waters deep and wide; 

And, as Canute, to teach, brought down his 

throne 
To where the Seas their mighty power condone. 
With England's shores; — and bade their waves 

be stayed, 
Nor dare encroach on Kingly power arrayed ; 

So, thou, in fury, tried to stop the Sea 
Of human Freedom, that was madd'ning thee ! 
Called out thy Prussians, Hessians, and the rest, 
To try stop sweep of Liberty's wave crest! 

As Canute taught, and Xerxes learned to see, 
So, thou wilt learn, how foolish 'tis to be. 
Opposed to Nature 's forces, or God 's plan 
For Human Freedom and the Rights of Man! 

And next, thou, Austria! Catspaw of the 
Hun! 
What awful deeds hast thou, in treach'ry done? 
With Turkey,— bloody Butcher of the East !— 
And base Bulgaria, set for War 's dread feast ! 

This is that Quartette foul, whose furious plan 
Would ruin and enslave the race of man ! 
Now, hark, as I recount, with pride, to you, 
The list of Allies set for World Cause true ! 



AN EPIC STORY OF THE WORLD WAR 149 

First, Serbia brave, resisting e'er the strong! 

Then, bleeding Belgium, suff'ring shameful 
wrong ! 

France, La Belle France! — ^the pride of all the 
world ! 

And, Britain Great, whose flag was soon un- 
furled ! 

Russia, the Wolf-hound of the North, then 
comes, 
But, soon, alas, from Prussian power it runs. 
Then brave Japan, that won at Kiau-Chau ! — 
And Montenegro, with its Slavic vow! 

Italia, belove'd ! now comes on ; 
Quick, facile, virile ; a rare fighting one ! 
Then San Marino, with Republic small! — 
And Portugal, from near Gibraltar's wall ! 

Roumania, now, turns from halting Greece ; 
With Allied Argonauts she'll win ''Gold 

Fleece"! 
Then, comes United States, with power elate, 
She'll turn the tide of battle for Cause great! 

Cuba and Panama, now, join the van; 
Greece, laggard Greece, comes in with far Siam. 
Liberia's joined! Brave China and Brazil! 
Bold Guatemala's next, the list to fill. 



150 THE GATES OF JANUS 

Then, Costa Rica, with a fair disdain, 
For Prussian prowess, joins the Allied train ! 
And, Nicaragna the vote doth pass, 
'Gainst Hun, — with Haiti and with Honduras! 

' The Czeckoslovaks, next, we hear in fight, 
'Gainst Prussian power, — in Russia's awful 

night ! 
The fiery Jugoslavs, new formed, are last, 
But win full honor, 'gainst the Bulgar massed ! 

The first of those declaring sev 'ranee swift, 
Of all relations, with a foe that's gripped 
"With hate so foul, — is Egypt, sleepy son 
Of Nile; — ^that rouses just as War's begun. 

Next, is Bolivia far, that dreads the day 
Of Hun oppression, — with the world at bay ! 
Then, San Domingo, where brave L' Ouverture, 
Led warriors black, for Liberty so dear ! 

Now, comes Peru, where, bold Pizarro's band, 
Fought well of old, o'er all fierce Incas' land! 
Then, Uruguay, washed by Atlantic's wave. 
And Ecuador, — though small,~that longs to 

save! 

This is the list of those that did enrage 
The hate of this Quartette, — that dared to wage 
War on three-fourths, and more, of all the 

world, — 
On thirty-two great powers, with flags unfurled ! 



AN EPIC STORY OF THE WORLD WAR 151 

Unlike Benhadad's Kings of Holy Writ, 
These two and thirty were both strong and fit ! 
'Twas Prussians that, like them, drank them- 
selves drunk, — 
This time with rage, — and fell before foe's front ! 

As, 'gainst them, then, the mighty Lord and 

God, 
Fought for His Israel, and their native sod! — • 
So, now, 'gainst Prussian power. His mighty 

arm 
Is loosed, and hurls on them all War's alarm! 

Ah, Prussia! If thou'dst calmer, saner been, 
Thou never would 'st have thought that thou 

could 'st win, 
Against such mighty force and right combined! 
Our God's against thee! — with most of man- 
kind! 

What, if, the Furies, now, thy gods implore, 
From old Valhalla, for aid in this War? 
What, if, they counsel still and give their aid ? 
Thou ean'st not win, 'gainst all this force ar- 
rayed ! 



BOOK VIII. 

1. THE COUNCIL OF THE FURIES WITH 
THEIR PATRONS. 

Whom gods destroy, they first, we're told, 

make mad, — 
And thy gods, Hun: — Thor, Wodan, fierce and 

bad, 
Are set, thee to destroy, by counsels vile, 
Aided by Furies, with their craft and guile. 

Not that they're turned against thee and thy 
'^welt," 
But, vaulting ambition oft o'erleaps itself! 
And so the Furies now, in council grim, 
Lay out a plan that is too rash to win. 

Rapine now leads that throng. Her voice is 
hoarse 
With cries for ruin, yelled without remorse, 
In din of battle, — crashing towers that fall! 
And, 'bove the pleas of ravaged, worst of all ! 

She has in hand Thor's hammer, loaned by 
him, 
For her fell purpose, in her conquests grim ! 
Wodan has loaned his wolves, — and ravens 

black, — 
These last, devour what's left by wolfish pack. 
153 



154 THE GATES OF JANUS 

Unsatisfied by these, in other hand 
She holds a flaming torch, to fire the land. 
She breaks with hammer, then destroys by fire ! 
Sets wolves on living ; when dead, — ravens dire ! 

Thus stands she 'fore Crown Prince and Hin- 

denburg, 
"While Cruelty and Malice by her surge, — 
"With Bitterness and Lust, — in passions vile! 
Rage, Hate, Pride, Envy, Lies, — all back her 

guile ! 

Hark, how she mouths and croaks, with fiend- 
ish glee! 
At what, through her, they've done! — -What's 

yet to be ! 
And then unfolds her plan, which, if it's hurled, 
"Will bring destruction upon half the world! 

"Ye patrons of our arts and infamies! 
' * Ye have done well, as most the world now sees ! 
''Though beaten back by Haig and by the 

French, 
*'Ye worked our plans both in retreat and 

trench. 

."From Rheims to Roye, from Roye to Arras 

North, 
"Ye left a wilderness, as ye went forth. 
"Ye sacked Noyon, Bapaume, Chaulnes and 

Perrone ! 
* * There 's not much left above the river Somme ! 



AN EPIC STORY OF THE WORLD WAR 155 

''Wells ye did poison, fruit trees cut amain, — 
' ' Fair smiling orchards, fields of waving grain ! — 
''Farm houses, temples, homes and cities too, — 
"All ye did ravage! 'Twas what ive would do! 

' ' Now ye 're entrenched, — on thy line, Hinden- 
burg! 
' ' Twill yet be months before ye can emerge. 
' ' Make much of all these months ! Pile up your 

guns,— 
"Men, ammunition ! Make all fear the Huns ! 



"Now, listen while I tell, what will you make 
The dread of all your foes, both small and 

great ! 
That will work havoc where ye cannot reach. 
And rapine, red, impose ! New horror teach ! 



it 



Let Krupp work out for you a super-gun. 
Immense, horrific ! Worthy of the Hun ! 
"Plant it in forest, hid from all foes wiles, 
' ' Make it with range to reach full seventy miles ! 



"Then, when the Winter has given place to 
Spring, 
"Let drive terrific, on full line begin. 
"From Arras to La Fere drive British out, 
"From La Fere unto Rheims make a French 
rout ! 



156 THE GATES OF JANUS 

''Then drive, still drive tlie hated foe amain! 
''Let what yeVe lost, be small part of your gain ! 
"Drive them from Somme to Aisne, from Aisne 

to Marne ! 
* ' Slay, fire and pillage ! Work on them all harm ! 

''Set up your super-gun for Paris range! 
"Fire on her homes! Let not a church be 

strange 
"To rapine's glut! Destroy her worshippers! 
"Shock the whole world with all that there oc- 
curs! 



"Thus terrorized, France shall be easy prey! 
"Paris shall fall! Ye shall have there your 

'Day'! 
' ' Versailles shall see, again, your flag imfurled ! 
"France shall not yield alone, this time, but 

world!" 



She said: and the Crown Prince, with Hin^ 
denburg. 
Applauded all her words! Then were there 

heard 
Shrill shrieks of joy, as. Furies, black as night. 
Rushed out rejoicing ! Delirious with delight ! 



AN EPIC STORY OF THE WORLD WAR 157 

Then, through the Winter months, Hun's 
plans are fit 

Into the Furies' methods, bit by bit. 

They strengthen all their force, make *' super- 
gun, "— 

They're ready for their drive when Spring's 
begun. 

2. THE SECOND RETREAT TO THE 
MARNE. 

March twenty-first, from Arras to La Fere, 
They sweep in hordes, to where foe's trenches 

were ; 
Take them by storm, — or by their treach'rous 

wiles ; — 
Drive back the British, one thousand square 

miles. 

Then from La Fere to Rheims, as Furies 

planned. 
They make another drive, where Frenchmen 

stand, — 
Aye, and Americans! — at Chemin-des-Dames ! 
Drive all, from there, right back unto the Marne. 

Meanwhile, on West, they drive them back by 
force. 
And threaten Paris fair, without remorse. 
The Furies' *' Gun, "from over seventy miles, 
Rains shells upon her, — her fair grace defiles. 



158 THE GATES OF JANUS 

The sacred House of God has ne'er been safe 
From Hell's mad fury, — ^nor from Prussian hate ! 
And, now, 'mong Easter worshippers, the Hun 
Hurls death, as Furies urged, with "super-gun" ! 

And are these brave Parisians abashed, 
By all these cruel horrors 'gainst them lashed? 
Nay! though the shells, women with children 



The dead! — the living cry: *' Speed, France, our 
Day!" 

Aye ! and she'll speed it, with her Allies brave, 
Set now at Marne, again fair France to save ! 
Though they've been driven back, they'll turn 

foe here, — 
As they did once before, and made Huns fear ! 

A plan is made to make that day more sure, 
As all the Allies mass to now immure 
The Prussians, — ere they cross the sacred Marne 
And wreak on France, and all the world, more 
harm ! 

They have, through perils, more united grown. 
They fight as one, and o 'er them they enthrone 
As leader, one who represents fair France, — 
Brave Foch the Great, — ^to stop the foe's ad- 
vance ! 



AN EPIC STORY OF THE WORLD WAR 159 

Thou hast been at the Marne before, great 

Foch! 
'Twas here thou won'st vast Victory 'gainst the 

Boche, — 
As thou did'st hold him back, with Joffre the 

grand, 
And, helped Joffre, Paris save from bloody hand. 

Now, thou art set, not only to hold back, 
But to drive far this same false, murd 'rous pack ! 
And thou wilt do it, — with this new offense 
Of Unity, — Cooperation's strength! 

Ah, what cooperation now is here! 
America and England, Belgium dear! 
France, Portugal and Italy so true! 
Go forward Allies ! Show the best ye do ! 

3. THE SECOND BATTLE OF THE MARNE. 

Muse ! That did 'st inspire old Homer blind, 
"With Milton, Vergil, — Xenophen's great mind! 
Help me to tell of one great battle long ! 
Greatest in hist'ry! Worthiest of song! 

'Tis Second Battle of the Marne I'd tell, 
Where Prussians, once again, have brought their 

hell 
Of hate and rapine ! — And where Foch now leads 
His men against them, — set for mighty deeds ! 



160 THE GATES OF JANUS 

As Foeh is in command, he now improves 
His master methods, 'gainst these horrid crews 
Of ravagers ! — as they are massed again, 
Upon the Marne, — inflamed by Furies ten! 

They've crossed in part ! This was the master 

stroke 
Of strategy! This confidence evokes 
From the inflated Hun! He thought the way 
Lay wide before him! — that he'd reached his 

*^Day!" 

But ah!, that other **Day," prayed for by 
them 
Who fell in Paris, — ^those who suffered, when 
The super-gun was loosed in all it's power, — 
Is coming fast ! Not ' ' Day ' ' alone, but ^^Hour!" 

Look at the scene as I shall lay it out : — 
Fritz von Below 's ' ' First Army ' ' 's put to rout ! 
As they're cut off, — ^by walls of men immured, 
Who vengeance bring for all their loved en- 
dured ! 

Degoutte, with Mangin, had thus forced them 
down ; 
De Mitry, wise, retreats and hems them 'round. 
The trap is sprung! — the hunted turn about 
And kill, or capture, e'er the foe gets out. 



AN EPIC STORY OF THE WORLD WAR 161 

(A.) CHATEAU THIERRY. 

But who is South to stop that dread advance ? 
None but Americans fight there for France ! 
At Chateau Thierry, they're set to hold 
The gates of Paris, which Hun would unfold. 

Bundy's in main command, with others set 
To lead First, Second, Third Divisions met, — 
With ''Rainbow," Twenty-Sixths and Twenty- 
Eighths, 
And Thirty-Second, from the middle States. 

Brave Dickman, with the Third, makes famous 
drive 
To flank securely French, at Dormans, plied 
By the besieging Boche! — While River's guns, 
From Seventy-Sixth, sinks Marne pontoons and 
Huns ! 

But Bundy's ''dough-boys" and Marines are 

pressed 
Back, back by thousands who have crossed 

Marne 's crest ! 
He's ordered to retreat again by French; 
Then comes that answer, famed in Camp and 

trench : 

*'Our flag has been compelled to join Retreat ! 
' ' This my men can 't endure ! Nor is it meet 
*'That brave Americans run from that pack 
* ' Of devils damned ! We must counter-attack ! ' ' 
11 



162 THE GATES OF JANUS 

Attack was made, on this most famous plea, 
And then the world, amazed, full soon did see 
Such deeds as it ne'er thought mere man could 

do I 
They stopped the Hun ! Yea, stopped, and drove 
him too! 



For thirty hours, some had here rushed to 

fight,— 
In motor trucks! — no rest by day or night! 
Yet down they jumped, at once, and set their 

guns,— 
Then, thirteen hours, drove hack the bloody 

Huns! 

The Thirty-Second, — of Division Two, 
Lost more than half their men, but they pulled 

through 
With more Hun prisoners than the men they'd 

lost! 
They suffered, but, — ^made Prussians pay the 

cost! 

Two regiments of Marines, from this same 
force, — 
The Fifth and Sixth, — ^here stopped the Hun's 

mid course, 
And, drove him back to Marne, — and, over that ! 
They, too, freed Paris from this last attack! 



AN EPIC STORY OF THE WORLD WAR 1G3 

Then, at the bridge of Chateau Thierry, 
Marines and '* dough-boys" see the Germans 

flee, — 
As they drive on and give them no respite, 
Save what is given by on-coming night ! 

In years to come you'll go to Thierry, 
To see the place ; — our Heroes ' graves to see ; 
And there they'll tell of our boys' hardihood, 
Who laughed at death ! — and fought as Freemen 
should I 

0, Chateau Thierry, — renowned in song, 
Long wilt thou be, — as many thousands throng. 
To see thy bridge, and where our brave boys 

fell!— 
To hear thee praise those whom France loves 

so well ! 

America ! That was a holy chrism, 
God gave thee there ! — as e 'er to heroes given ! 
Thy blood has sanctified the place, — and thee ! 
These deeds will live in Immortality ! 

(B.) CONTINUATION OF THE MAIN 
BATTLE. 

This was the *' little pocket" 'cross the Marne. 
A larger one still threatens direst harm. 
It too must close upon invading Boche ! 
The plan is laid! It's called ''The Coup de 
Foch!" 



164 THE GATES OF JANUS 

'Gainst this the Furies prove of little help. 
Here Hun's ambition doth o'erleap itself! 
As Furies ' plan is foiled by War 's grim shard 
And Huns are hoist upon their own petard ! 

From Rheims to Soissons they are close 

heromed in, 
On three sides, by the Allies, and the ''string," — 
If ''pulled" right by the plan, — will shut the 

"bag," 
And kill or capture all the foe who lag. 

Upon the East, Gouraud at Rheims is set, 
Against von Einem and von Mudra met! 
A little South, di Robilant holds back 
Von Below 's army from the next attack. 

Then, South by East, Bertholet, — in command 
Of French, Italians, English, there doth stand. 
While on full South, de Mitry wait-s, still fresh, 
Von Below 's army to again enmesh. 

Then, next, at Chateau Thierry, our boys, 
From fair Columbia's land, set their decoys. 
The Hun to lure, — or drive him 'cross the flood ! 
They drove him! Held the bridge and firmly 
stood ! 



AN EPIC STORY OF THE WORLD WAR 165 

Now, on South-West, the *' Yanks," with 

Degoutte, face 
Von Eben's might; von Boehn's ''pride of 

place"! 
Upon North-West, they, there, with Mangin 

stand. 
Facing von Hutier's Eighteenth Army Grand! 

And, mark you, the Americans they use. 
In every point of vantage, — where they'll fuse 
"With France's dash, with Britain's steady pace. 
Or, with Italians, run the fiery race! 

Some are with Gouraud, some with Bertholet, 
Some with de Mitry, — e'er on hand to slay! 
Some with Degoutte, and some with Mangin bold ! 
They'll ''pull" the "string," with them, and 
Hun enfold ! 

Mark, now, the plan, in more enlarged detail. 
That Foch has made, to drive beyond the Vesle 
These rash invaders, — or to capture them. 
Between the walls of his surrounding men ! 

Gouraud and Mangin, on North-East, North- 
West, 

Must "pull the string," as, this, their place is 
best ! 

Degoutte and Bertholet must push the sides; 

DeMitry, from the South, drive him who hides ! 



166 THE GATES OF JANUS 

The ''string" is "pulled"! Gouraud, upon 

the East, 
Draws, for three days, the strength of Prussian 

beast, 
And gives Mangin a chance to mass his best, 
As he thrusts all his power the plan to test. 

It works ! The wary Prussians are surprised ! 
Von Hutier's army, weakening, routed flies! 
Gouraud pounds on! The ''string" is drawing 

tight! 
Bertholet drives them left, Degoutte to right ! 

What's the result? The sides now closing in, 
The Prussians seek some easier path to win ; 
Find it upon the South ; go there in force ; — 
The "pocket" deepens as they block their course. 

Too late ! Too late ! they see the wily plan ! 
They're caught! Surrounded! Fight as man to 

man! 
Seek not to enter farther in, but out ! 
The battle fast becomes an utter rout! 

And now de Mitry, and his smaller bands, 
Is pushing upward with Americans ! 
They 're here distinguishing themselves again ! 
They win more glory ! Fight as fighting men ! 



AN EPIC STORY OF THE WORLD WAR 167 
(C.) THE BATTLE OF BELLEAU WOOD. 

Have you e 'er heard of famous Belleau Wood ? 
And how Americans in strength withstood 
The Germans, who were gathered there, en masse, 
Set, not to let the hated *' Yankees'' pass? 

Well, if youVe not, let me, now tell the tale, 
And, show the picture, as they there prevail, — 
Fighting, with force, against amazing odds ; 
It is another '* Battle of the gods" I 

As, when the Greeks, by mighty force opprest, 
Saw Mars join Troy, — at it's supine request; 
And, then, received themselves Minerva's power; 
So, now, Columbia came, in this great hour. 

As Oreus' helmet hid that goddess' face, — 
So, now, the woods hide fair Columbia's grace. 
Her strength and power, howe'er, are hidden 

less, 
In this great ''Battle of the Wilderness"! 

And, as Tydides, guided by the god, 
His javelin threw, hissing, at the nod 
Of Mar's great plume; — so, now, our boys' great 

fight, 
Is guided, aided by Columbia's might! 



168 THE GATES OF JANUS 

And, as again, that jav'lin, aided thus, 
Pierced Mars' great armor, and his groin did 

thrust 
With bloody wound; — ^so, now, Columbia's 

strength 
Drives home her soldiers' blows, with dire in- 
tent! 

And, as, once more, that god, again, in vain, 
Tugs at the shaft, and bellows with his pain ; — 
So, here. Mars, struck by mighty force, in full, 
Writhes with his wounds, and bellows like a bull ! 

Whate'er may be the truth of classic song, 
Our boys were, here, by Power Divine, made 

strong ! 
Won 'er opposing odds ! Were kept secure ! 
Aided by God, the Victory was sure ! 

Let me here tell of one great proof of this ; 
Of how the Lord used even what's amiss, — 
To make for triumph, — as He kept His own, 
Lost, left and 'mid unnumbered dangers thrown. 

A gunner. Sergeant Brown, — ^had been de- 
tailed ; 
With 'leven men the German's path he trailed, — 
Set up his gun, turned it against the foe ; 
Then, full two hundred Prussians made him go. 



AN EPIC STORY OF THE WORLD WAR 169 

He told his men to scatter ; went alone, 
Through darkened woods, to find his base and 

home; 
Met with his Captain! Found that they were 

lost! 
Eesolved to sell his life at highest cost ! 

Down in a thicket, they did waiting lie, 
While Prussians passed, in whelming numbers, 

by; 
Heard two machine guns going, back of them; 
Decided these to take, or die like men ! 

Up crept the Captain, and brave Sergeant 

Brown ; 
Leaped on the gunners, but, — the Captain's 

down! 
Shot through the heart, he fell, there, like a man ! 
The Sergeant, undismayed, takes up the plan ! 

Up to the other gun, he creeps with stealth, 
Three men are manning it, yet,- — by himself, — 
He charges I — Kills the men and turns the gun 
Against the foe ! His fight is just begun ! 

Now, all his men, attracted by the sound. 
Come running towards him, — as they'd scattered 

'round. 
He gives them a command ! They stand in place. 
Near one lone trench, where Germans they could 
trace. 



170 THE GATES OF JANUS 

At his sharp signal, all their guns give voice! 
Their automatics crackled, — and the choice, 
"Was given those Germans, by bold Sergeant 

Brown, 
Of death or full surrender of their ground! 

Look at him, as he stands on parapet 
Of German trench, and hostile glances met! 
And tell me : — moves it not your heart and soul ! 
To see such manhood, under such control ? 

They thought an army had surrounded them ! 
That they had best surrender! — and they, then, 
Laid down their arms, threw up their hands and 

came, — 
A hundred prisoners, led in Victory's train! 

The tale is not all told ! Still there was chance. 
That they might captured be, as they advance. • . 
The foe was all around them and they might, 
Fall victims to them, if these knew their plight. 

They hurry on! See prowling Prussians 

come, 
In smaller bands, who, quick, to them succumb ! 
They reach their line at last! The count is 

made : — 
One hundred fifty-nine, in that one raid! 



AN EPIC STORY OF THE WORLD WAR 171 

And, mark, this was no ordinary raid: — 
A Major, Captain, two lieutenants paid, — 
With non-commissioned officers galore, — 
Defeat's great price, to add to Victory's store! 

Ah, Sergeant Brown! My pen is weak, to 

place 
Thy name as high as that which thou should 'st 

grace ! 
But, for thy coolness, pluck and bravery, 
America is honored, honoring thee ! 

Thus are these tales inscribed of that great 

day, 
Where, once again, America did play 
The man! Where courage, coolness, faith were 

shown, 
Such as this world of ours has seldom known ! 

America ! Be proud of each great son ! 
Ye fathers, mothers, joy for deeds they 've done ! 
And ye, O citizens, hold up their hands! 
They're conquering for ye! To free all lands! 

(D.) CONTINUATION OF THE MAIN 
BATTLE. 

This Second Battle of the Marne's still on; 
For two weeks it's to last, — ^the greatest one 
In all the War, thus far ; — ^nor will it end 
'Til from the Marne to Vesle the foe they send. 



172 THE GATES OF JANUS 

On Mangin, West, rests plan of main offense. 
He holds key place, backed up by force immense, 
Gathered for weeks 'round Villers-Cotterets ; 
Hid in the woods and valleys, where they stay. 

Then, when Gouraud's three days' bombard- 
ment. East, 
Had well the foe distracted, Mangin ceased 
To hide, still longer, his reserves' great strength. 
But hurled his forces forth, — his power to vent. 

Pernant, Longpont, Missy-aux Bois they seize ; 
Make first day's drive full five miles long, with 

ease; 
Are joined by Degoutte, holding well the right. 
Who takes the Troesnes Woods in bitter fight. 

Meanwhile, Bertholet, on South-East, has 

heard ^ 

Of this great double stroke, and strives to curb 
His forces, with de Mitry's, 'til the plan 
Shall catch unwary Prussia in its jam ! 

It is the ' ' Pincer Bite, ' ' the ' ' Scissor Stroke ' ' ; 
The *'jaws" or *' blades "—East, West,— the 

''pivot" cloaked 
South, with the bold de Mitry, — holding in 
Until the signal's given to drive and win. 



AN EPIC STORY OF THE WORLD WAR 173 

And now the ''pincers" pineh! The 
** scissors" cut! 
As Bertholet, Mangin, begin to put 
Their lines in closer contact ! While, the South, 
Its lines push upward, driving Prussians out ! 

Oulchy now falls! and Fere-en-Tardenois ! 
While "Yankees," at Epieds, win the Croix! 
The Ourcq is crossed, by "Fighting Sixty- 
Ninth"! 
They win! — because they're fit, strong, self- 
reliant ! 



(E.) THE FIGHTING SIXTY-NT[NTH ! 

Have you heard of the "Fighting Sixty- 
Ninth!"? 

They come from New York, — to which they're 
affianced ! 

They're brigaded: "Hundred and Sixty- 
Fifth!" 

But they're first, in a fight, never ^^ fifth'' nor 
sixth! 

'Twas "Company K," of the Sixty-Ninth, 
Who first crossed the Ourcq, — brave, bold and 

defiant I 
And set, for the French, a valorous pace. 
Which gained for them prize in Victory's race! 



174 THE GATES OF JANUS 

'*Mes enfaiits!" the General said that day, 
' ' You will bravely stand, — for that is your way ! 
*'This day will show of what stuff you are 

made, — 
**Ajid show Huns the reason you've crossed the 

wave ! ' ' 

** We'll do it, mon Gen 'rale ! the soldiers cried. 
**We come from New York! — and from Irish 

side ! 
*'Not the Devil himself, nor all Huns' might, 
' * Can Irish-Americans stop in a fight ! ' ' 

Through shot, fire and shell, to the mouth of 

Hell, 
They fought, bled and died, — with such deeds to 

tell,— 
That the French were amazed! — and soon the 

Hun 
Was routed! — defeated! — and Victory won! 

''Mes enfants!" the General said that night, 
** You've gloriously conquered all Prussian 

might ! 
^ ' La Belle France says to you her thanks are due, 
* ' And she gives them also to your country new ! 



''When tJie War is done and all battles won, 
And you boys go home, with your duty done, — 
We'll recount, with praise, your deeds defiant. 
Thank God ! for ' The Fighting Sixty-Ninth ' ! " 



AN EPIC STORY OF THE WORLD WAR 175 

(F.) CONTINUATION OF THE MAIN 
BATTLE. 

And now, de Mitry, joins with Bertholet, 
To drive the foe, far back from Epernay, 
"Which had been longed for goal! They take 

Jaulgonne, — 
As Dormans had been won and Chatillon ! 

The Prussian line is broken everywhere! 
Their four great armies seek another lair ! 
Soissons has fallen, neath bold Mangin's strokes; 
Their entering Paris proves another hoax! 

The final act is on the banks of Vesle, 
"Where the Americans again prevail 
At Fismes, — which they took by grand assault. 
The foe is conquered ! Punished for foul fault ! 

From Rheims to Soissons, now, the way is 
clear ; 
The salient all is lost, they held so dear! 
Ah, what a loss was that in land, men, guns! 
What price was paid by the defeated Huns! 

Over two thousand square miles of land lost ! 
More than three hundred thousand men paid 

cost ! 
A thousand cannon ! Tens of thousand arms ! 
With seventy thousand pris'ners as the Marne's ! 



178 THE GATES OF JANUS 

Ah, Hun! Did'st thoii forget sure Hist'ry's 

page ? 
When Attila met Theodorie's rage, 
Here at the Marne, in year four fifty one ? 
That lie was, tlien, driven back? That France, 

then, won? 

Or did^st thou think that record could be 

changed ? 
That thou could 'st here avenge the Hun, then 

maimed ? 
That thou could 'st beat thy great progenitor, 
In military prowess and grim War? 

Nay! 'Twas not prowess that the Hun then 
lacked ! 
'Twas lack of God ! — A lack thou hast in fact ! 
And Theodoric,— "Gift of God, "—invoked. 
By blessed means, that Presence with his host. 

Hast thou e'er heard of Genovefa fair. 
The simple shepardess of old Nanterre? 
Who filled with visions, like the brave Jeanne 

d' Arc, 
Vowed God would aid them make the Huns de- 
part? 

Their aim, then, was to take Lutetia, — 
Paris now called, — as tliou hast tried unbar 
Her gates! But they failed then, as, now, thou 

hast, — 
Because God gave a maiden what she asked ! 



AN EPIC STORY OF THE WORLD WAR 177 

Strength, faith in God ! These two the Franks, 

then, gain, 
And by these two they conquered on Mame's 

plain. 
The foe was driven back ! The field they leave ! 
The Frenchmen called the maid * * St Genevieve ! ' ' 

Ah, Hun! There's many a Genevieve, today, 
That has been praying 'gainst thee! And the 

way 
God heard, defeated thee again at Marne ! 
Once more, saved Paris from the Hun's foul 
harm I 

Thus, was the greatest battle of the War 
Won by our Allies, who'd fought well before, — 
But, here, they fought, as those with strength of 

God,— 
As they again, drove Hun from that blest sod! 

Ah, river Marne! Though thou wast famous, 

when, 
Great Joffre turned back the Hun with valiant 

men! 
This second deed, from off thy channelled brink, 
Will e'er make men of greater glories think! 

And thou, great Foch! We hail thee super- 
man. 
Like Kitchener before thee, — for thy plan 
It was, that made the Victory complete, — 
The world to save ! The Prussians to defeat ! 
12 



178 THE GATES OF JANUS 

Ye Frencli! Italians! British, joined as 
one! — 
Americans also! — what deeds yeVe done! 
A grateful world, joined ever in your praise, 
AVill highest honors always to ye raise ! 

And, through all time to come, proud men 

will say: 
* ' Yes, my ancestors fought at Marne that day ! — ■ 
*' Those days, indeed, when Right defeated 

Might! 
**Hail glorious Victory! Hail world's greatest 

fight!" 



BOOK IX. 
1. THE THIRD BATTLE OF THE SOMME. 

But, Marne's not only place where Hun's re^^ 
pulsed ; 
He is, in Picardy, too, where, — convulsed 
With futile passion, and with Furies' rage, — 
He fights, in vain, before Sir Douglas Haig. 

The third great battle of the Somme's begun, 
Just as victorious French drive out the Hun 
From Soissons. The day before, upon the Lys, 
Sir Douglas drove him back, with threatening 
ease. 

Now mark the plan that I to you unfold. 
As Haig had set it forth, so wise and bold : — 
The North holds Rawlinson, Byng, Home, to 

drive 
The forces of von der Marwitz aside. 

The centre holds Debeny to push back 
Von Marwitz from a side attack. 
South, — ^near Fontenoy, — Mangin and Humbert 

keep. 
To hold von Hutier back from Northward sweep. 
179 



180 THE GATES OF JANUS 

Arras is Northern end; — ^near Soissons' South; 
The centre's Montdidier ; — Perrone's far out. 
The plan is to push back, or '* pinch" the Hun, 
'Til Bapaume North is joined with Soissons, 
won. 

Again the ''pincers" pinch, the ''scissors" cut. 
The "pin" is Debeny ;— the "blades" are put 
Northward and Southward, and, if they should 

meet, 
Thci foe is lost ! Cut off in his retreat ! 

August the eighth, on twenty-five mile front, 
They brealv the German lines, with battle 's brunt. 
From Albert South to Avre and Montdidier, 
The British drove them back with furious fray. 

In two days they have driv'n them fifteen 
miles ! 
In three, — they 're circumventing all their wiles ! 
For these few days, they've won, at Hun's ex- 
pense. 
Thirty-six thousand pris'ners, — guns immense! 

And now, Debeny, with his French reserves, 
Pushing on Montdidier, the Hun unnerves ! 
He turns ! He runs ! Oh, what a fearful rout 
Did Prussians show that day, as they went out ! 



AN EPIC STORY OF THE WORLD WAR 181 

Then Humbert and Mangin, from South, now 

move; 
Threaten Lassigny's '^massif " and soon prove, — 
With Yankees brave, — ^victors o'er foes, who 

leave 
South, North and Centre, which the Allies seize I 

And still the fight goes on ! Eoye falls ! — and 

Chaulnes ! 
Lassigny's captured! — Noyon and Perrone! 
Bapaume then falls! They've pierced Hinden- 

burg'sline! 
Von Ludendorff is baffled ! Lies supine ! 

"Would I might tell of Home, Byng, Rawlin- 

son, 
And their great deeds, in North, against the 

Hun! 
Of Debeny and France, 'round Montdidier! 
And of Brave ''Yanks," who Hutier's army 

slay! 

But I have told enough, to show the tide 
That turned von Marwitz back, — Prince Rup- 

preeht's pride! — 
That broke von Hutier, South of the Somme line, 
And made von Hindenburg new zones define ! 



183 THE GATES OF JANUS 

The plau lias worked ! The salient nil is won 1 
Another **eonp de Foch'' on them's being 

sprung ! 
The line is straightened, Ji'oiu far North to 

South, — 
From Marne far North of Sonime, foe's driven 

out! 

Hail, to the wise and brave Sir Douglas Ilaig! 
Hail, to tlie men lie there with skill arrayed! 
He planned, they fought ! Results were safe and 

sure ! 
Their deeds will through all time endure ! 

Aye, Somme ! Thou hast, with Marne, in this 
great War, 
Surpassed all other deeds e'er done before! 
And thou 'It be written high on History's page, 
For these great battles that brave men did wage ! 

In other years, when some the question ask: — 
^'Were your forbears arrayed in tliat great 

tnskr' 
Proudly will answer, many an Allies' home: — 
**Yes, my Great Grandad fought with Haig at 

Sommol" 



AN EPIC STORY OF THE WORLD WAR 183 
2. THE VICTORY OF ST. MIIIIEL. 

That Vict'ry won; intrepid Focli now plans 
Still greater triumphs o'er these pirate bands, — 
As, he, and France, brave Pershing's forces 

tell:— 
*'Go! Take the salient of St. Mihiel!" 

Do you know the story of St. Mihiel? 
How, for four long years, it withstood, so well. 
Shock, siege, — oft repeated, by Frenchmen 

made, — 
'Til it seemed secure from both storm and raid ? 

'Twas Nineteen-Fourteen, when Castelnau 

lost 
This sector immense, at terrible cost, — 
To Prince Rupprecht ! Who 'd sought his foe to 

flank, 
And aid the Crown Prince in Yerdun 's advance. 

He failed ! But he captured grim St. Mihiel ! 
And that is the reason I 'm now to tell, — 
How Americans came, the day to save, 
And resurrect France from defeat's vast grave. 

Our forces are now fully organized. 
Into five Army Corps, and each one prized 
Its place in General Pershing's treasured plan. 
The Hun to crush, and win the Rights of Man ! 



184 THE GATES OF JANUS 

The first of these great Corps does Liggett 
lead, 
The second Bullard ; "Wright the third, and Read 
The fourth, — from many a scattered state, — 
"While Bundy leads the fifth, with power elate ! 

Five Army Corps; of six Divisions each! 
The finest men from this great land 's far reach ! 
A million and a quarter, — brave and bold! 
Who will not only take, but, always, Jiold! 

Not all are here. Not all are needed now, 
This crown to pluck from haughty Prussia's 

brow ! 
Some are with Mangin still; some still with 

Ilaig,— 
To hold back, farther West, the Hun's Avild raid ! 

Pershing's now chief, not in name but in fact ! 
By such Army Corps he, thus, is well backed. 
Castelnau's with him ; he's helped by the French, 
But here, for first time, he leads the offense ! 

' ' Go ! " was the message of General Foch, 
''St. Mihiel take from the horrible Boche! 
** You'll do it, 711071 hrave, with men such as these I 
''Crush! Crush the proud Prussians! Down to 
their knees!" 



AN EPIC STORY OF THE WORLD WAR 185 

Look! Look, to thy fair name, America! 
Thou'rt on the battle field of famed Seicheprey ! 
Here, first, Columbia's brave blood was spilled! 
Here, first, our men were seized, as Prussians 
willed ! 

Those martyr dead, cry out for vengeance's 
metes ! 

Those pris'ners, led, like beasts, through Ber- 
lin's streets! — 

Cry loud for some redress! Rise Freemen — 
now! 

It rests with ye to punish ! Keep your vow ! 

Look at the map of this great salient strong. 
It lies like a triangle, some miles long. 
Fresnes is the Northern end, Mousson the South, 
While St. Mihiel's at base. South- West, — about. 

From Fresnes to Mousson is 'most thirty 

miles. 
From Mousson" to Mihiel, same distance styled ; 
While, from Mihiel to Fresnes, the way is less, 
Yet 'twould be called the same, — if men should 

guess. 

Imagine, now, this great triangle dread, — 
With almost thirty miles on each side spread. 
St. Benoit is the centre, — at the top; 
If our men meet thercj then, Hun's power will 
stop ! 



186 THE GATES OF JANUS 

Bold Pershing, now, divides his forces brave; 
Two are to drive, the other set to save 
The South-West, from beleagured, wary Hun, — 
As, from Mousson and Fresnes, the drive's 
begun. 

It was again '^the pincer bite" they chose; 
The '*jaws," from Fresnes and Mousson, slowly 

close ; 
They meet at St. Benoit ! The trap is sprung ! 
They capture twenty thousand frightened Huns ! 

You see the strategy ? What it evoked ? 
The other force, South-West, at once provoked 
Not, now, defensive War, but strong offense! 
They drive to centre and win spoils immense ! 

See, how they drive! A thousand '^Tanks'' 

rush forth, 
On vast barbed wire entang'lemients, towards 

North ! 
They fall before them ! Foes behind they stun ! 
They turn in rout! Bold Prussia's **on the 

run"! 

The aeroplanes they use, in greater force, 
Here, than at any time in whole War's course. 
These bomb Montsec, as ^ ' doughboys ' ' storm its 

height ! 
It falls; — as had Les Eparges' hill of might! 



AN EPIC STORY OF THE WORLD WAR 187 

South, East and West they drive, and close 

hem in 
The foe, — on North, — who, e'en now, does begin 
To seek some outlet, in his maddened flight ; — 
His path is barred! The '* Yanks" have won 

the fight! 

How quickly, too, this glorious fight was won ! 
In less than two days was the deed then done ! — 
Against a Fortress, that, for four long years, 
Had hurled defiance as each foe appears ! 

Thus St. Mihiel is taken; Vow is paid! 
America, in force 'gainst foe arrayed, 
Here takes its toll, in its first single fight ! 
Seicheprey's avenged, by our great wrath and 
might 1 

3. THE GAINS OF ST. MIHIEL. 

Vengeance's not only won, but much beside: 
The threatening of Verdun cannot be plied! 
In place, — is threatened, Citadel of Metz! — 
And Briey's store of mineral effects! 

If Metz should fall! If Briey's basin's lost! 
The War would end in three months! — at the 

cost 
Of Prussia's power and military strength! 
The end is coming ! Is quite near, at length ! 



188 THE GATES OF JANUS 

This is no idle boast of ours, remember well; 
'Twas mentioned by the Germans, — as they 

tell,— 
Through Sehrodter, — of Briey's great need to 

them; 
Of more importance, far, than all their men! 

This mineral wealth, they're using in their 

guns; 
In ships, munitions, arms; — ^in such vast sums, 
That more than three-fourths, of all they now 

use, 
Comes from Briey, — ^to arm their murd'rous 

crews ! 

Now, Prussia foul! Guard well this buried 

wealth ! 
America's against it, — and thyself! 
She'll take from thee, what thou once took from 

France. 
She'll crush thee, swiftly, in the next advance! 

As, here, she took 'most two hundred miles 
■ square, 
So, there, she '11 take Briey and Lorraine fair ! — 
Reduce grim Metz ! — and threaten all the Rhine ; 
Then Germany shall be no longer thine ! 



AN EPIC STORY OF THE WORLD WAR 189 

Back we will drive thee and thy "Potsdam 

Gang-; 
Back to Berlin! — as thou makest final plan. 
And there well strip thee of thy power, thou 

cheat ! — 
As we show Germans how we Prussians beat ! 

Americans ! We greet ye ! St. Mihiel 
Will ever glorious shine, — for deeds done well! 
YeVe gained not glory only, — land so vast, — 
YeVe showed what Eight can do, against Wrong 
massed I 

All hail, Americans! Ye've won the day 
For which France, England, through long years 

did pray. 
YeVe proved your mettle, — showed to all the 

world. 
What our great banner means, when it's un- 
furled I 



y 4. ON TO BERLIN! 

Across the Rhine, at last, we'll fearless go. 
And drive base Prussia back, — most treach'rous 

foe! 
Then well free, not world only, from Hun 

stroke, 
But, Germans also, from a despot 's yoke ! 



190 THE GATES OF JANUS 

Would that lier eyes were opened to this fiend, 
Who all her glory doth, with wrath, demean ! 
But if they're not, we'll open them by force! 
We'll show the Germans, — ^Prussia at her worst! 

When her fair fields are ravaged, as she's done 
To Belgium, France, — where she outreached the 

Him 
Of ancient times, in savagry and hate, — • 
The German lands wdll know her foul estate ! 

The operation may be painful! — but, 
It's necessary, — ^thus to keenly cut 
The tendons, cords and ligaments away, 
That they may clearly see the Beast we slay! 

It's coming to thee Prussia! — and ne'er whine, 
When we hurl, dreadful, on both thee and thine, 
This awful Frankenstein that thou doth raise; 
'Twas born in Berlin ! There must be its grave ! 

Press on Americans! English and French! 
The end's approaching! Gird your loins with 

strength ! 
This triumph great at St. Mihiel leads way 
To Germany! Berlin! To Vict'ry's Day! 



BOOK X. 

1. THE AUSTRIAN PEACE NOTE AND 
BULGARIA'S SURRENDER. 

Yes, end^s in siglit! Two days had scarcely 
passed, 
"When Austria, — catspaw of the Hun, — ^has asked 
For a Peace Parley with the Allied powers. 
And Wilson answers for both theirs and ours. 

The answer, brief and curt, does not wait long ; 
It's made same day and rings thus, clear and 

strong ; — 
That no Peace Parleys can be entertained 
Until we've conquered! And have Peace, thus, 

gained ! 

Next day, a drive is made on South-Bast 

Front, 
From Salonica, — for a Bulgar Hunt ! 
They fast advance through Macedonian hills, 
New Allies, nov/, are joined, — ^hearts, souls and 

wills ! 

They pass in shade of Mt. Olympus ' brow ; 
Ah, mighty Zeus! If thou'dst been watching 

now! — 
'Twould make thee think thou'dst sent thy great 

son Mars, 
To carry War, again, through all earth's bars! 
191 



192 THE GATES OF JANUS 

See ! how the sunlight on their helmets shine ! 
See! how, in serried ranks, they keep the linel 
Thy Grecian Argives ne'er went forth, before, 
In greater panoply ! — to greater War ! 



Greeks, there are, now, in all these ranks, 

aflame. 
Just as they marched before, on Trojan plain, 
Under great Agamemnon! Now, they're set 
To save, not maid, but world! — Their honor's 

debt! 

British and Greeks, at last, are joined as one ! 
King Constantine 's deposed! Ven'zelos' won! 
The new King, Alexander, joins Allies, 
And, bravely fights with them, as Bulgar flies. 

The Serb has risen again, — in Jugoslav ! 
This old, new nation is now fighting hard. 
Small Serbia, poor, despised, has grown amain; 
She's joined by Croats and Slovenes, of same 
strain. 

They've resurrected now their old regime; 
Dropped newer names, — an older one doth mean 
More, now, to each, as each will always have 
More pride in their old name of Jugoslav. 



AN EPIC STORY OF THE WORLD WAR 193 

They're made the Nemesis that follows wrong. 
Bulgaria warred on Serb ; — against weak, strong. 
Now Serbia, for her woes, is giv'n this salve: — 
To war Against Bulgar as the Jugoslav ! 

The dead's alive! The weak has grown thus 
great ! 
Now, Bulgar ! Guard thyself and royal State ! 
The Serb is on thy track, in a new name ; 
He'll win great Viet'ry o'er thee! — glorious 
fame I 

Upon a front of hundred thirty miles, 
They rout the Bulgars, as they seek defiles, — 
To hide from these avenging hosts, that hurled 
Their fury on them ! — for themselves and world ! 



French, British, Greeks, Italians join the drive. 
But they give place, — let this new nation thrive 
On viet'ry after viet'ry, as they pressed 
The Bulgar 'cross his line, — ^which they soon 
wrest ! 

Now, they are pressing on his Fortress grim ! 
Strumnitza's Fortress falls! — which was to him. 
The Citadel of all his pride and strength ! 
He can hold out no more ! He yields at length ! 



13 



194 THE GATES OF JANUS 

He asks for an Armistice ! None is made, 
'Til unconditional surrender's paid! 
The Bulgar drops Ms arms I He 's out of fight ! 
And Salonica sees Peace signed for Right! 

King Ferdinand is ousted from his throne. 
His son, King Boris, reigns, — but not alone ! — 
The Allies rule the land, as a great base ; 
The Blood-hound now becomes a Watch-dog safe ! 

Thus was the first of this great Quartette foul 
O'ercome by force, — which changed his Blood- 
hound's howl 
For "War, to bay of joy for proffered Peace ! 
The Furies too are stilled ! Their ravings cease. 

All hail, ye Jugoslavs ! What ye Ve done here. 
Will through all time on Glory's page appear! 
Ye've conquered one oppressor, through War's 

waste ; 
Press on to others now ! Haste, heroes I Haste ! 

2. THE BATTLE OF AEMAGEDDON. 

Still further East, brave Allenby's gone 
forth, — 
In Syria's Holy Land, from South to North. 
Pie's taken Shechem, home of Abram old; 
Crossed far famed Esdraelon, to Carmel bold! 



AN EPIC STORY OF THE WORLD WAR 195 

At Haifa, — where Mt. Carmers verdant base 
Laves in the Sea, while it reflects her face, — 
A Vict'ry*s won, like that Elijah gained. 
Here, o'er Baal's prophets, — through God's 
power that flamed ! 

Aye! and, like those false prophets, Turks 

now cry. 
From morn 'til eve for help, and thought it 

nigh I 
But Mahmoud slept ! Or else on journey went ! 
Baal and Turk, Ijoth fail in this event ! 

At Acre, 'cross the Bay, where Saladin 
Fought the Crusaders, and, 'gainst them did 

win; 
Now, these Crusaders new, foil what Turks 

planned; 
The Cross o'er Crescent doth victorious stand! 

On Armageddon's plain they meet at last! 
The Turks are set, there, to defend the Pass 
To Nazareth, — ^the home of our dear Lord. 
Not all their strength can vict'ry them afford ! 

Ah, John! v/ho did'st, on Patmos' lonely Isle, 
Eeceive that Vision grand, that did'st beguile 
Thy soul with rapture ! — Is this, then, to be 
The great fulfillment of thy prophecy? 



196 THE GATES OF JANUS 

Is Turk, or Hun, that *' Beast," so vile and 

foul. 
That o'er the earth, with murd'rous rage did'st 

prowl ? 
Is this great Armageddon, now, — to be 
The War to end all earth's wild misery? 

'Tis very like that which, in Holy Writ, 
Thou hast described, in language bold and fit. 
The Vials of wrath have all been emptied out, 
As men, — grown mad with hate, — join battle's 
rout. 

The First Vial caused a noisome pestilence 
That sickened every soul, as its great stench 
Found vent in War. Has this, now, been ful- 
filled 
In this War's pestilence, through thousands 
killed? 

The Second turned the boundless Sea to blood. 
Is this fulfilled in Ocean's crimsoned flood, — 
Made such by U-Boats, with their mangled slain, 
Who have incarnadined the billowy main ? 

The Third made rivers turn same color, red, 
As War was waged near them, with mounds of 

dead. 
Is Marne and Vesle and Aisne and Somme to be 
The dread fulfillment of this prophecy? 



AN EPIC STORY OF THE WORLD WAR 197 

The Fourth, threw fire iipon the flesh of men. 
They're ** scorched with fire," again, and yet 

again! 
Is this preview of *'Flammenwerfers' " ire 
As they scorch, burn, Allies with liquid fire? 

The Fifth caused darkness, black, to fall on 
''Beast," 
While through his Kingdom grisly spectres feast. 
Is this fulfilled in these disasters, black, 
That have o'erwhelmed the Hun and all his 
pack? 

The Sixth dried up the way o'er Euphrates, 
That way for Conqueror be prepared with ease. 
Does this mean Maude, and his great work well 

done, — 
Who o'er Euphrates crossed and Bagdad won? 

Then were let forth three ''Unclean Spirits," 

each 
From out the great "False Prophet," — 

" Dragon, "—" Beast. " 
Is Hun the "Beast"? — Turk, Bulgar, Austrian 

base. 
These "Spirits" named, that should give War 

its place? 



198 THE GATES OF JANUS 

They were, as ' ' Devils, ' ' to roam all the world ; 
Drive all to Armageddon, — with wrath hurled; 
That they might, here, fight this last battle, 

dread. 
And vent their hate in awful mounds of dead ! 

But, mark! Through these, the world was, 
soon, to see 
A resurrection, great, of Liberty ! 
The ''Beast," with "Devils," to Perdition sent! 
The world remade and rid of War's portent. 

Now, Seventh Vial is poured out on the air, 
And then came thunders, lightnings, every- 
where. 
Was this the prelude of our Aeroplanes, 
That ''thunders," "lightnings," from their 
guns have rained? 

Then comes the end, as mighty earthquake's 
shake 
Did rend the earth, — ^none e 'er before so great,-^ 
As cities of vast nations crumbled, — fell 
In the red welter of a World War Hell. 

Is this the prophecy of this World War? 
None greater has, e 'er this, been seen before ; 
Cities of nations, great, have felt War's Hell, 
Are Prussian cities to feel this as well ? 



AN EPIC STORY OF THE WORLD WAR 199 

''Babylon is fallen!'' — a great Voice cried: — 
Is ''Babylon'* Berlin and Prussian Pride? 
Is earthquake to rock its foundations strong, 
And overthrow State, City, — Wilhelm's wrong? 

Is this the prophecy ; — ^this the analogy 
Of what is, noiv, and, what was, then, decree ? 
The Vials have been unloosed; the world now 

waits 
Decree fulfilled, ere Janus close his gates. 

Most Vials were loosed on Armageddon's plain, 
As Turk and Christian fight with might and 

main. 
The skies are black with airy ships ; the streams 
Run blood red to the sea, — with added means ! 

The guns belch fire, which burning liquid 
grows, 
As it is shot through ' * Flammenwerf ers ' ' ' hose ! 
The heavens, through these, are hid with 

sulph'rous smoke, 
As Gog and Magog do all Hell evoke! 

Hark, to the din of War ! It strikes the drums 
Of all the world's great ears! But 'neath it 

hums 
A sound of triumph ! — as brave men are set. 
To win great Vict'ry, o'er such foes thus met! 



200 THE GATES OF JANUS 

This is no modern fight of trench and tool, — 
'Tis in the open, — on great plain, once cool 
With snows of Lebanon, now hot with War, — 
Greater and grander than World 's known before ! 

See ! how the cavalry charge 'cross the plain ! 
'Tis led by Lawrence, — he of '' Eastern brain," 
Who knows the Turk, from skin to soul within ! 
He fights with confidence ! He knows he'll win 1 

He's given AUenby much aid before; — 
Cut railroad at Derat, in midst of War, — 
So that the Turk's communications fail 
To great Damascus, — where Allies soon previail. 

Now, look ! how gloriously he 's winning here, 
With his mixed forces that in might appear! — 
The Druses, Bedouins, Anzacs, Indians brave, — • 
With British *' Tommies" all 'gainst foe arrayed. 

The end is certain. Turks, now, break and 
run, 
Pursued by cavalry I The rout's begun ! 
They f ollov/ them to Naz 'reth 's ancient walls ; — 
The Home of our loved Lord to these, then, falls! 

Here, Prussian Sanders had his **easy base"! 
He leaves all fighting to the Turkish race ! 
As, he did once before, at lost Gallipoli, 
Where he set heathen Turks on Christians free ! 



AN EPIC STORY OF THE WORLD WAR 201 

Here, when he finds his Butcher Turks have 
lost, 
He tarries not, nor stops to pay the cost, — 
But, like a coward, flees! Leaves Turks alone. 
And hastens back to Prussian master's throne I 

Still, do victorious Allied troops press on. 
Full forty thousand pris'ners they have won! 
They take Tiberias, on Lake Galilee, 
And a free Palestine, at last, they see ! 

Ah, fated Richard of the Lion Heart ! 
Ah, Barbarossa, who with him did'st start!-— 
And Peter, Godfrey, Baldwin, Louis-Saint ! — 
How slight were your Crusades, for Christian 
plaint ! 

Spread, though they were, through 'most two 
hundred years. 
How little yet at last for world appears! 
Though ye went but to win the ' ' Sepulchre, ' ' 
It still remained the Turk's, as first it were! 

Now, here, brave men, in less than one short 
year, 
Have won all that which is to world most dear. 
Not '* Sepulchre" alone, but all the land, — 
From Dan to Beersheba, — is in their hand! 



202 THE GATES OF JANUS 

Hebron, Jerus'lem, Gaza, BetMehem! 
Jericho, Joppa, Shiloh, Esdraelon! 
Nazareth, Cana, Sea of Galilee ! — 
And Bethany, — ^where Jesus loved to be : — 

All these, and more, won these Crusaders new, 
In Syria also, now great deeds they do, — 
As they attack Damascus' ancient gate 
And beat it down, with Christian power elate ! 

They storm the walls, o'er which Paul came 
of old; 
These quickly fall, before brave forces bold ! 
Thus gain they oldest city known to men, 
As they fresh Vict 'ry win o 'er foes again ! 

Thus, fell this ancient stronghold of the 

Turk !— 
Seven thousand pris'ners too, who there did 

lurk! 
The East is conquered, with great Turkish loss! 
And Armageddon's won by Christian Cross! 

3. THE FORCES ENGAGED. 

Did I say Christian? Other faiths were there, 
Which stir our praise as they did deeds so 

rare : — 
The mixed religions of far India's land; 
Jews, Druses, Arab and Mohammedan. 



AN EPIC STORY OF THE WORLD WAR 203 

The ''Palestinian Legion," from New York, 
Is joined to British, since our land doth balk, — 
For some great reason, — from declaring War 
On Turk, — we should have warred on long be- 
fore ! 

O, hidden fount of strange diplomacy! 
How thou must gurgle, as thy source doth see 
These ways, so tortuous, — chidden from men's 

eyes, — 
That true men hate ! That honest men despise ! 

Well hath our President declared for Truth, 
In all its nakedness, as the great proof 
Of honesty, when nations treaties plan. 
Open Diplomacy's the need of man! 

"Would God! he'd made his reason clear and 

plain, 
Why we should not attack, on land and main. 
The murd'rous Turk! — who's set for butch 'ry's 

goal! 
Yet, we must wait ! With patience keep our soul ! 

We're glad, howe'er, we're represented there. 
By these brave Jews, from out our borders 

fair ! — 
Take some side honor, from the deeds they've 

done ! — 
Thank God ! — they went for us, and nobly won ! 



204 THE GATES OF JANUS 

We greet ye, patriot Jews, from our great 

land! 
Thank ye for this, — accomplished as ye 

planned ! — 
Thank ye for what ye 're doing on all fronts ! 
Fight on! We're with ye through all battle's 

brunts ! 

One other of these forces also needs 
A further word, — as well as Fame's great 

meeds ; — 
'Tis the Mohammedan, from Mecca blest, — 
Fighting 'gainst brother of same faith possessed. 

Since Malimoud Great proclaimed religion 
new, 
In this lone region, and new forces drew 
From all the world, — the Arabs have all felt 
They're first of Malimoud 's, — chosen by himself! 

The Turk they scorn, though of the same old 

faith ; 
Have tried, through many years, to make things 

safe 
Against him! — Hoped the fierce Wahabites 

would be 
Their saviours ! — Set Mecca and Medina free ! 



AN EPIC STORY OF THE WORLD WAR 205 

The '*Simnites," — ^'^Shiites" too, — have long 

since cleft 
Islam into great factions, all bereft 
Of sympathy, — cohesion ! All intent 
To gain their ends through some great world 

event. 

That time came, when, upon the wond'ring 

world. 
War, with full horror, had been quickly hurled ! 
Now, Arabs felt their destined hour had come. 
And, joined the Allies, 'gainst both Turk and 

Hun I 

They listened not to call for *'Holy War,'' 
So foully made by Stamboul ! They now bore 
Arms for the Allies! — and seize *'Holy Place" 
Of Mecca, — and Medina, — for their race ! 

They make a Kingdom, new, they call Hedjaz. 
Hussain 's made King ! — and o 'er his Kingdom 

has 
Full power. The hated Turk is overthrown ! 
They war for Allies and themselves alone ! 

This is first break of Turkish power in East. 
They win Arabia, amid great feast 
Of joy! — March out with Allies, as they now 

start forth. 
And join all forces massed 'gainst Turk on 

North! 



20Q THE GATES OF JANUS 

They 're with brave Maude, as he wins old Bag- 
dad 1 

Drive out the Turk from what, too long, he's 
had I 

Join AUenby, for drive in Palestine ; 

In blest Jerusalem their banners gleam ! 

So, through all that victorious Campaign, 
These Arabs fight, and victories win amain! 
At ancient Shechem, — Armageddon too, — 
They fight with power ! Most glorious deeds they 
do! 

At Haifa, Acre, Nazareth they win ; — 

Defeat the Turks, — for theirs and Islam 's sin ! 

Join in Damascus' Victory with zest; — 

Their name's writ large on Hist'ry 's palimpsest ! 

Thus, I make mention of these heroes bold, 
Because their deeds have not been often told ; — 
Because they 're mentioned not within the list 
Of those, — through Turk, — ^who all Hun's power 
resist ! 

This, would another nation proudly set, 
"With all of those who, with world powers, have 

met 
To break the Boche, — and all the force he has ! 
All honor to the Kingdom of Hedjaz ! 



AN EPIC STORY OF THE WORLD WAR 207 
4. RUSSIA AND THE CZECHOSLOVAKS. 

Still further East and North, another power 
Has burgeoned great, in Hist'ry's fateful 

hour ! — ■ 
As Czechoslovak, Austrian yoke defies, 
And nation makes, which Allies recognize. 

They're from Bohemia, and Moravia too, 
Were under Austrian masters, but broke through 
Their lines, upon the Eastern battle front ; 
Joined Russian brother Slavs, — and Austrians 
hunt I 

When Russia was overthrown, they joined the 

van. 
For a Republic and the Rights of Man ! — 
Helped the new Government with counsel, — 

arms, — 
Russia to save from Anarchy 's alarms ! 

But, when the Bolsheviki overthrew 
That Government, for Revolution new; 
These Czechs and Slovaks, with united power, 
Hurled all their strength against such awful 
dower 1 

A hundred thousand of them fought as one ; 
Though scattered far, they 're ever pressing on, — 
Through centre of the land, — to keep the heart 
Of Russian mass and Bolshevik apart. 



208 THE GATES OF JANUS 

They're joined, on Eastern front, by Japan- 
ese, — 
Tlie Bolshevik to curb as these now seize, 
Not only cities, but, the country too, 
And seek to wreak on all the worst they do. 

At Vladivostok there, now, join with them, 
Not Jap alone but brave American ! 
The wiry French ! The hardy British too ! 
All set to aid and see this business through ! 

With Murmansk, — and Archangel too, — these 
hold 
Both ends of the Siberian Eoad, and, bold 
To join their forces in a middle state, — 
Drive from each end, new power to recreate ! 

They are successful! Hold Tobolsk and 
Tomsk, 
Within Siberia's centre. Capture Omsk; 
Start there another Government, to save 
The land from Bolshevik's red ruin's wave! 



AH this is done by Czechoslovaks bold, 
Assisted, — ^but in part, — ^by Allies old ; 
Who, — ^new to them, — give now most loud ac- 
claim ; 
And help them on, new towns and states to gain. 



AN EPIC STORY OF THE V/ORLD WAR 209 

Hail, then to all these Czechoslovaks brave ! 
Born in due time, great Enssia's cause to save 
From ruin and red Anarchy 's demand ! — 
To save it from itself ! — as they had planned ! 

Hail, also to their Nation ! — recognized 
By Allies all ! — though it is now despised 
By Prussian and by Austrian tyrant 's sway ! 
Hail little nation ! Born within a day ! 



14 



BOOK XL 

1. FRESH VICTORIES ON THE WESTERN 
FRONT. 

And what of Western Front? Ah! here at 

last 
The Hnn has learned that all his power is passed ! 
Since St. Mihiel he 's suffered mnch and long ; — 
The Allies, soon, will sing the Victor 's song I 

Upon four sectors huge, such deeds are done 
As, everywhere, defeat cast on the Hun ! — 
In Flanders, on the Somme, near Rheims so old ; 
Through Argonne's woods, to Verdun grim and 
cold I 

The first of these is under King Albert ! 
The second under Haig, that Scotchman rare ! 
The third is under Gouraud, Frenchman bold ! 
The fourth brave Pershing, with his men, doth 
hold! 

Haig smashes, first, towards old, St. Quentin's 
goal. 
He wins ten thousand pris'ners for his '^fold'M 
With French, he wins Oise front, North of La 

Fere; 
Then Vendeuil's stronghold falls, — ^with booty 
rare! 

211 



212 THE GATES OF JANUS 

Haig reaches Northward unto CaMbrai's 

waste. 
Debeiiy 's near La Fere. Mangin, in haste, 
Breaks through Cheinin-des-Dames towards Laon 

so strong ! 
Such onslaughts foe cannot resist for long ! 

"With Haig is Eead^ of Pershing's Fourth great 
Corps ; 
He takes Nauroy and Beliiconrt, before, 
The Hun can answer with a counter drive. 
Haig praises in despatches that men prize ! 

Men there, from New York State and Tennes- 
see 

Fought, with the Carolinians, bold and free. 

From North and South, they hailed, and won 
great fame ! 

Our Country's fused in one! — by battle flame! 

Gambrai has fallen ! Great St. Quentin too 1 
On thirty-five mile front they've broken through 
Haig 's ' ' Kilties, ' ' called by Hun : * ' Ladies from 

Hell," 
Push now to end what's been begun so well ! 

The Prussians, now, start wide retreat near 
Lille. 
They know the end is near as out they steal ! 
They drive, to slavery, hosts, — their works to 

man; — 
They've fifty thousand ta'en from St. Quentin! 



AN EPIC STORY OF THE WORLD WAR 213 

This, all the more enrages English, — French ! 
For twenty miles they drive them back, and 

quench 
Their hopes 'round Lens, as, with an eight mile 

breach, 
They crush their strength ! Anew, harsh lessons 

teach ! 

Meanwhile Gouraud, with Pershing, makes ad- 
vance. 
Between the Meuse and Aisne, — to there enhance 
Their power! — And Hindenburg's great line 

they crush, — 
For seven miles through, — in twenty mile great 
rush ! 

Twelve towns are theirs! Five thousand 

pris'ners more! 
Brave Liggett leads, as, hurrying on before, — 
His troops take Varennes, Vauquois, Montblain- 

villel— 
While others take the rest, — for this world's 

weal! 

Men from the "West are there, as well as East : 
Missouri, Kansas, Pennsylvania's reach! — 
While others from far scattered States now 

storm 
Montfaucon's heights, and win that hope for- 
lorn ! 



214 THE GATES OF JANUS 

They break the * * Kriemhilde " line, named 

thus by Hnn, 
Because Valhalla's gods o'er him hath won 
The Victory ! He 's pagan to the core ! 
His *'Gott" 's our Devil, — ^if he's taught such 

War I 

It is Hun's last defence in Northern France. 
With this line gone, he can make no advance. 
He must retire, through Belgium, as his lines, 
Of ^'Kriemhilde," ^'Freya," *' Siegfried" reach 
their last confines. 

Gouraud has also crossed the foe's front line; 
He's won Servon, which Hun held, — four years' 

time ! 
Butte de Mesnil he wins ! Navarin Farm ! 
With these gone, foe can work no further harm. 

He 's taken Medeah Height, where he can train 
His guns on foe upon **Monts de Champagne." 
He is beleaguering Moronvilliers strong. 
The ' ' Massif ' ' 's crumbling ! They can 't hold it 
long ! 

Thus, does the Boche see all his vast defence 
Go tottering to a fall, — ^that will at length 
Hurl him defeated into pit of shame ! 
He knows this marks the end of all his fame ! 



AN EPIC STORY OF THE WORLD WAR 215 
2. THE EESURRECTION OF BELGIUM. 

And, hark ! From North breaks out the din of 
men! 
Belgium aroused ! She's at grim War again ! 
Overwhelmed, — 'most broken, — through these 

four long years, 
Once more, in glorious fight, she now appears ! 

For all these years, she's held on, firm and 

grim. 
To corner of her land, upon the rim 
Of her fair coast. From Ypres to Nieuport 
She's held her line 'gainst ruthless Prussia's 

court. 

Now, as Haig, Gouraud, Pershing, drive in 

line, 
She rouses all her hosts to acts sublime. 
Drives towards Dixmude, takes famed old Poel- 

capelle, 
And wins four thousand prisoners as well ! 

They take Dixmude! Press on towards far 

Eoulers, 
Threaten Ostend and Zeebrugge 's famed bay. 
Reach up towards Bruges and Holland's frontier 

line ; 
The Boche now sees it's, also, Belgium's time ! 



216 THE GATES OF JANUS 

And why ? Because slie 's waited patiently, — 
With faith undimmed, — downtrodden Right, to 

see 
Ta'en from the scaffold, set upon her throne ! — 
And the oppressed restored to land and home ! 

And why? Because her King, like rock has 
stood, 
E 'er with his people, as a warrior should ! 
Because he 's vow^ed, to them, and his loved land. 
That he would Vict 'ry win in this last stand ! 

He sat not still upon his royal throne ! 
He mingled with his people, — far from home, 
In Camp and field ! — And, on this last advance, 
He led them, cheering, into "War's dread chance ! 

He shared their toils and perils, — was out- 
lawed ; 
Fought with his men ; was by the foe abhorred ! 
Took part in ev'ry dangerous campaign, 
Nor spared himself, the Victory to gain ! 

Is he not worthy then our highest praise ? 
Aye ! Worthy this and of the world 's amaze ! 
As we behold him, to such duty giv'n, 
We say: ''He's worthy all,-— and worthier 
Heav'n!" 



AN EPIC STORY OF THE WORLD WAR 217 

Behold him, whom I mention thus in praise ! 
Not only head but soul of Belgium's Vv^ays ! 
Uncover patriots ! Albert 's in our ken ! 
King, — ^not of Belgium only, — King of men ! 

3. THE ''PEACE" COUNCIL OF THE 
FURIES. 

When Boehe sees Belgium's resurrection 

grand, 
He knows his punishment is near at hand ! 
Belgium 's like Banquo 's ghost ! It v/ill not 

down, 
Until full vengeance for her foe 's been found ! 

'Twas thus in Serbia! Now in Belgium too, 
Grim Nemesis shows what he best can do ! — 
As this weak nation slain, — revived in might, — 
Wars like a Centaur and drives foe from fight! 

The Quartette's War Dogs howl no more for 

War; 
They whine for Peace, — as Bulgar 's did before ! 
The Furies too are cowed. Thej^ see their ends 
Have all been lost! They summon their main 

'^friends,'' 

See ! how they meet in council grim again, 
With Kaiser, Ludendorff and Mackensen ! 
Von Hindenburg is there, — and the Crown 

Prince, — 
They rail at loss, at sure defeat they wince ! 



218 THE GATES OF JANUS 

Now, Bitterness is spokesman. It's her time! 
Rage, Hate and Malice, — all now lie supine, 
With Cruelty and Rapine, Lies and Lust, 
Aye, — Pride and Envy, — all now bite the dust ! 

One only lifts as Bitterness goes on. 
That one is Lies, — most treacherous of the 

throng, — 
Now cherished fondly by these leaders base ; 
Perchance, through her, they'll win back power 

and place I 

They do not love this black recital grim,- — 
For Bitterness is in a furious whim ! 
She slavers rancor ! Spits out venom vile ! 
"With oaths and curses she doth all defile. 

**Ye partners of our crimes and foul offence! 
**The time has come when we must cease pre- 
tense, 
** And face grim facts ! — as we make other plans 
**To foil our foe, or, yield to his demands ! 

''We have now gone through four long years 

of War. 

* ' The Furies all have helped ! — op 'ed Ruin 's door 

* ' And sent forth all her train I Thus did we aid 

**Your plotS; to save ye from destruction's grave. 



AN EPIC STORY OF THE WORLD WAR 219 

*'But ye have bungled! Oh, so woefully! 
'*YeVe overthrown our wiles that were to be, 
**The means of conquering all your foes and 

ours! 
*^YeVe spoiled our hopes and robbed us of our 

dowers I 

'^Thou, Wilhelm, base! Accurst of God and 
man! 
**"What devil wast that prompted thee to plan 
* * Belgium 's invasion ? This, made us and thee 
**Twin partners in world's greatest infamy! 

'*Did*st thou not know that this would rouse 
the world? 
**That on both thee and us would then be hurled 
* ' The indignation of all freemen bold, 
**Who e'er believe they're set weak to uphold? 

''Why did'st thou also turn that madman 

loose, 
**Thou call'st von Tirpitz? — let his threat 'ning 

noose 
''Of U-Boats dread, coil, with grim death, the 

seas ; 
*'Make war on neutrals and the world displease? 

''Yes, we did bid thee use our ev'ry means 
"Of Rage, Hate, Malice, — as it well beseems, — 
"With Cruelty, and Rapine, Lust and Lies; 
"But we meant these for foe, who, thee defies! 



220 THE GATES OF JANUS 

' ' Fury must be opposed to do its best. 
^ ' We ne 'er can vent, on helpless, all our zest. 
' ' gull ! dolt ! fool ! that thou should ^st be 
* ' Thus, cause of all our shame and misery ! 

^'And thou, von Hindenburg! What was thy 

aim, 
*' Because o'er Russia thou so well did'st gain, — 
' ' To try such tactics on these Western men ? 
^'Did'st thou think such, would win, o'er these, 

again? 

* ' Thou well hast had a statue raised to thee 
* ^ Made all of ivood, that everyone may see 
^'Thou'rt wooden through and through,; — save 

where they pierce 
** Thy wood with nails, — to make men iJiink thee 

fierce ! 

*^Out! Out, base braggart! Thou art not the 

man 
^'To win o'er Freemen! — nor to work our plan! 
^'Back to oblivion! — ^whence, too soon, thou 

came 'st ! 
* ' Thou art not fit to send freemen against ! 

' ' And Ludendorff ! Thou who wast called ^ the 

brains 
'' 'Of War and Strategy' !— But for thy pains 
*^In planning 'March Offensive/ we had been, 
''Still, strong at Somme, at Oise, at Aisne, to 

win! 



AN EPIC STORY OF THE WORLD WAR 221 

*'Now we've been driven back, further than 
e'er, 
'Because of thy presumption, which, — if 'twere 

■ But put to better use, — had led us on 

■ To Paris ! — Victory ! — still joined as one ! 



it 



Defeated, thus, what better is to do 
Than yield all fronts, — before they're broken 
through ! 
** Thanks to ye, — Generals Srat^e/— there's noth- 
ing left, 
"With all our force o'erthrown, — our armies 
cleft! 



*^Had'st thou 'Clown Prince!' but gained for 
us Verdun ! 
''^We might, o'er all defects, still safely won. 

* * But, for such work, thou never wast endowed ! 

* * 'Gainst thee, the world 's been laughing, — long 

and loud ! 

'*Thou puppet of a vain old father's whim! 

* * Degenerate ! Steeped deep in nature 's sin ! 
*'Thou'st best hide quickly! Thou'rt the world's 

lampoon ! 
** They '11 make thee laughing stock of nation's 
doom! 



2,22 THE GATES OF JANUS 

*'And, now, Mackensen ! I come last to thee. 
''Thou hast done much, with Turk's mad butch- 
ery;— 
''Why could 'st thou not have stopped Bulgaria's 

shame, 
**With all the fury thou could 'st set aflame? 

*'We gave thee Rage and Hate and Cruelty, — 
**With Rapine, red,- — thy dread commands to see 
*'A11 carried out with direfullest portent! 
**Yet thou did'st fail us in that great event! 

'*Thou had'st in Sophia forty thousand men. 
** Could 'st not, with such aid, turn back foe 

again ? 
'* Because thou faltered, paltered, all is lost, 
* * And, now, we, with ye, must pay dreadful cost ! 

* * There 's nothing more to do ! Ye Ve failed us 

all! 
«* "We've fought long with ye, — answered every 

call! 
* ' But, now, — thanks to your mad and blund 'ring 

ways, — 
**We're vanquished! All our power the Victor 

slays!" 



AN EPIC STORY OF THE WORLD WAR 223 

She said : Then stealthily did Lies arise. 
Falsehood was on her lips; deception in her 

eyes,— 
As she looked 'round on all that grovelling 

throng,— 
And thus, in wary tones, tried make weak, 

strong : 

* ' All is not lost ! Duplicity 's the thing,— 
* ' When, force of arms, permits us not to wing 
* ' Victorious flight o 'er all ! Let us now try 
*' False Treach'ry's means, — ^with all her arts 
imply I 

* ' Let us send Austria, with another note 
*'For Peace, — and, thus, make warring nations 

gloat 
*'With satisfaction, o'er our supposed fall! 
' * Then, gaining time, make greater war on all ! 

'*In such note writing, do thou, Wilhelm, join; 
* ^ That we may greater confidence purloin 
**From foolish foes! They'll think the end has 

come, 
''"When Austria's note is joined by warring 

Hun! 



2,24; THE GATES OF JANUS 



li 



Send it to far America again. 

Well gain more audience there, than English- 
men, 

Or French will give ! We'll cast false glamor's 
spell ; 

Make them think for the world they're acting 
well! 



**Then, they'll, for us, with other Allies 
plead ; 
''They'll win them all to see the human need, 
''Of mercy seasoning justice, — and they'll plan 
' ' A great Armistice over every land. 

"Thus, while negotiation's going on, 
"We can recoup our strength, — make force as 

one; 
* ' Build new defences on our frontiers old, 
"And he prepared for fresh advances bold ! 

"Let these Peace Parleys last through days, 
weeks, months ; 
' ' Each day is that much gain on all our fronts ! 
' ' Then, when we 're ready, vv^e have hut to say : 
' ' ' The Peace terms do not suit ! ' — and, start the 
fray ! 



AN EPIC STORY OF THE WORLD WAR 225 

'* Surprised, and weakened, by their fancied 
ease, 

' ' We can hurl furious power, where'er we please ! 

''We'll conquer, thus, — when Spring is well be- 
gun,— 

"Through *Last Offensive,' by victorious Hun!" 

The plan pleased highly all that motley 
throng. 
The Furies leaped, danced, — revelled in wild 

song! 
The Kaiser they beguile to quick assent^ 
His Gen'rals, with new joy, to their tasks went! 



15 



BOOK XIL 

1'. THE *' BATTLE OF THE PEACE 
NOTES/' 

Now are the ** Peace Notes'' drafted with dis- 
patch. 
Austria is not called in ! She's merely latch 
To door of Peace, op'ed by her master's hand. 
She must, with dread, obey all his demand. 

They're flashed with speed across the vast 
world wire. 
They reach America, and, rouse the ire 
Of patriot sons, who cry : ' ' They us defame, 
' ' When they write us instead of Allies, main ! 

''Do they think us of shorter memories? 
*'That we've forgotten their atrocities 
*'0n Pole, Serb, Belgian? — If they now seek 

Peace, 
*'Let them ask cdl, not lis,- — and, warfare cease !" 

Yet Wilson feels that we must treat with them, 
On honor 's basis, as fair dealing men. 
He writes to ask what is their status now. 
As he can't treat with those who brea.k their vow. 
227 



228 THE GATES OF JANUS 

This, is just what the wily Prussian needs. 
He vows he's changed! For further hearing 

pleads I 
Assures us he is ready to make Peace 
On Wilson's terms, — that War may quickly 

cease! 

Then, Wilson writes that note that all ap- 
plaud ; — ' 
Not nation, only, but, all world doth laud 
The bold deliverance of this wise, just man. 
Whom Germany deemed catspaw for her plan. 

**If ye are changed," thus the brusque, curt 

note reads, 
**Why do your U-Boats wreak the same foul 

deeds 
*'0n innocent and warring? Why sink life 

boats, 
''While ye are sending us your false Peace 

Notes? 

''If ye wish Peace, cease all your war at sea, — > 
"On land as well, — and German States set free 
' ' From all the Junker, Hohenzollern sway ! 
' ' We will not treat with such. Ye must obey ! ' ' 

'Tis harsh, but there 's a loop hole for the Hun, 
As Lies had planned. Peace Parley's but be- 
gun! 
They answer that they're changing their affairs; 
So that the people may have their just shares. 



AN EPIC STORY OF THE WORLD WAR 229 

* * No further notes ! ' ' Now people wildly cry : 
*'To parley with themes wrong, while thousands 

die! 
**Not to the pen but sword we must resort, 
' ' While fiends, like these, send back such false re- 
port T^ 

The people's cry is heeded. Last note's sent. 
Which reads: *'If ye your vows have fully 

meant, 
' ' We '11 treat with you on military plan. 
** Surrender! That's last word! Foch has com- 
mand!" 

2. MORE VICTORIES FOR THE ALLIES. 

This, comes to leaders as bad news is heard 
From every Front, — where vast defeat's oc- 
curred. 
!Americans have broken *'Freya" line; 
The Belgians reach their coast 's North- West con- 
fine! 

They Ve cleared the Hun from all their North 

Sea coast, 
Ta'en Bruges, Ostend and Zeebrugge, — Hun 

boast ! — 
Reached unto Holland's Southern line and make 
Ghent their next goal, — with Antwerp's greater 

stake ! 



230 THE GATES OF JANUS 

Haig smashes on, with all the Allies bold ! 
Seven thousand miles, in square, they now do 

hold;— 
Won, since that July day upon the Marne, 
When they drove Boche, and stopped his further 

harm. 

And, Allenby has won Alleppo now. 
Stamboul will be the next the Allies vow ; 
But Turk sees all is lost, and, hastily, 
Makes Unconditional Surrender's plea. 

Another War Dog", thus, has been transformed 
From War to Peace, — much by the Furies 

mourned, 
For his defection! Yet, they, too, are stilled 
In all their ravings, — as the Allies willed ! 

Italians, too, have crossed Piave's line. 
And driven the Austrians back with valor fine ! 
They 've fifty thousand pris 'ners won in drive 1 
Against such might, Austria can't long survive! 

The Czechs have risen, — in their native land ! 
Won Prague and o'er it flung new banners 

grand 1 
Hungarians too have claimed their Freedom's 

dower, 
And, Austria gives it, in defeat's sad hour! 



AN EPIC STORY OF THE WORLD WAR 231 

She, now, sues Italy for speedy Peace, 
As she's compelled the enslaved to release; 
She'll get it, only, as Italians see 
*' Italia Irredenta" is made free! 



3. THE LAST COUNCIIi. 

It is in such alarms last Conclave meets ; 
The Furies grovel, as Kings take their seats. 
Austria's now present. She's insistent grown. 
She claims her right to act for all her own. 

She's first to rise, — as Charles, her Emperor, 
stands 
To speak for all his many varied lands. 
He's pale of face, dejected in his mien. 
He's thinking of what is, not what has been! 

*'Te leaders all!" he cries. ''Ye Furies old! 
**We are undone! Our lands are uncontrolled! 
**The people rise, through all my wide spread 

States ; 
*'They cry for Freedom, in fierce mob debates! 

''I have already promised them to free 
**A11 subject races; — to make Kingdoms three 
*' Within my confines, — Jugoslavs and Czechs, 
**With old Hungaria giv'n what she expects. 



233 THE GATES OF JANUS 

''There must, also, an Austrian Poland be, 
''That, Wilson, — and the Allies, all, — ^will see 
' ' Established by their power. We 've no redress ! 
"We're conquered! That we'd better all con- 
fess I 

"IVe done it! — and IVe asked for separate 

Peace ! 
"If ye will not join in, still, I must cease 
"This useless War, and own to my defeat! 
"We're overmatched! We can't the Allies 

beat!" 

Then, rose base Wilhelm, — ^he with withered 

arm. 
That glance, that used to fill all with alarm, 
Is now weak, way 'ring, — ^helpless, as he scanned 
That throng, — all set 'gainst him and his doomed 

land. 

Yet, did his voice with feeble passion shake, 
As he hurled, 'gainst the Austrian, all his hate ; 
Condemned his cowardice, — that left his kin 
In such fell hour, — when they, e'en yet, might 
win. 

' ' Ingrate and coward ! ' ' Thus he wildly cried : 
"Wilt thou leave, thus, those to whom thou'rt 

allied? 
"E'en yet, through tortuous ways, we may 

achieve 
' ' That which, through fear, thou dost not, now, 

perceive. 



AN EPIC STORY OF THE WORLD WAR 233 

*'T]ie Prussian system's greatest known to 
manl 
*'I have my Gen'rals here. I'll trust their plan 
**To still win, o'er our foes, a Vict'ry great, 
*'That shall establish thine and mine estate! 

*'"What if Bulgaria's failed, and Turkey too! 
**They were but weak supports; — ^less did they 

do 
^'Than I and thee! We'll win without them, 

yet, 

**If thou thy pledge to me wilt not forget! 

*' Speak Ludendorif ! And thou, von Hinden- 
burgl 
**Tell the weak Austrian of our great Reserve I 
* ' Show him our power I Our certainty to win ! 
''Tell him of all we are, now, to begin!" 

Then, Ludendorff arose, the craftiest man, — 
Save Kaiser Wilhelm, — taught by Prussian plan ! 
His eyes are fixed; his face, like stone, is set 
Against his King. He speaks, thus, with re- 
gret: — 

*'A11 Highest!" Thus, with form, he doth 

reply,— 
**The end has come! For long, I've thought it 

nigh. 
''We've giv'n, too much, to popular demand! 
" 'Tis, thus, we've lost, both on the sea and land ! 



234 THE GATES OF JANUS 

**Had'st thou but held the reins in thine own 

power, 
*'We might have 'scaped this dreadful, fatal 

hour! 
**But, as thou'st yielded to the Socialist, 
'^Our end has come! They've gained all that 

they wished! 

*^Liebkneekt, thou hast released! Erzberger 

raised 
**To place of power, — which mob, of course, all 

praised ! 
*' Hardin's, now, bold, to write all he desires; — 
' ' To scorn the Army, he, the people, fires ! 

**In such event, I can, no longer, hold 
**A place that can be, nevermore, controlled. 
*'I, therefore, ask thou 'It make this favor mine, — 
^^ Permit me, Highest, here, to, now, resign!" 

Then up sprang Hindenburg, and in his eyes 
Was light of some new thought, some great 

emprize. 
The Kaiser hailed him, as his trusted friend. 
He looked, for him, their hopes, tOj upward, 

send. 

Alas! Vain hope! von Hindenburg aspires 
Not to back Master, — ^but to turn foe's fires 
From his spent Army!— and bring it surcease! 
He is not, now, for War, but speedy Peace ! 



AN EPIC STORY OF THE WORLD WAR 233 

'*0, Master dread! All Highest, hear me 
now! 
** Before thee and the rest, I, here, avow 
'^We can no longer fight! "We must arrange 

* * To, speedily, bring Peace and methods change ! 

*^"We conquered, easily, while Allies fought 

* * Each for themselves, and, others set at naught ! 
*'But, when they all united under Foeh, 

*'It spelled sure ruin for us they call 'Boche!' 

to 

**E'en thus, we might have fought and won 

the day, 
*'But, then, America 'gainst us did prey,— 
**When thou allowed 'st von Tirpitz, mad, to 

prowl 
' ' 'Gainst neutrals, whom he slew with slaughter 

foul I 

''This, is it that hath turned the tide of War! 
"We might have won o'er all these powers be- 
fore, — 
*'But, with united front, — Foch in command, — 
** America has turned scale 'gainst our land! 



**Make Peace, therefore! Make any Peace 

at all ! 
**Ere Army mutinies and Kingdoms fall! 
** There is naught else to do! We must make 

Peace 
'*0r, greater power against us will increase!" 



236 THE GATES OF JANUS 

He 'sat, and "Wilhelm looked about in fear. 
He saw each face liad changed, and did appear 
To hold some higher resolution brave, — 
That would a King desert, — a land to save! 

The Furies, even, grovelled, helpless, there. 
They wailed aloud, or madly tore their hair! 
Accusingly, they all scowled, now, on him ; — 
Condemned him for their own and his great sin. 

*'And have ye all deserted meV he cried: — 
''Are ye, no longer, now, with me allied? 
''Must I be sacrifice, for England's hate?- — 
' ' Lose all my power, and, with it, lose my State ? 

'*Te know, I've offered anything to be, — 
' ' If my great people will still fight for me ! 
''I'll make Republic! Be first President! — 
"If ye '11 stand by me in this great event!" 

All shook their heads. The Furies clamor 
make 
Like that they made within the Janian gate, — 
Not, now, for War, but Peace they loudly cry : — 
Peace, e 'en if States, Crowns, Kingdoms, Kaisers 
die! 



AN EPIC STORY OF THE WORLD WAR 237 

'*And, must I, now, debased, my throne re- 
sign,'— 

''My State, Crown, Kingdom, HohenzoUern 
line?'' 

' ' Aye ! All ! ' ' — a dread voice says, through fast 
closed door. 

It ope's ! A shadow grim trails o'er the floor ! 

4. FATES FINAL DECREE. 

They look in fear, as in the doorway stands 
A most portentous figure, swathed in bands 
Of sable hue, — ^that cover up her form. 
Save sombre eyes, — ^that have made thousands 
mourn. 

'■ 'Tis Fate! — that black hued messenger, so 

vast. 
That o'er the earth, so many times, has passed, — 
Bringing dire messages, which o 'erturns thrones. 
Cast out old dynasties and ruins homes! 

She stands, a moment, on the threshhold dim, 
Then, — without welcome, — enters, dread, within. 
Casts then, o 'er all, her eyes, — deep burning orbs. 
As each one there, her scrutiny absorbs. 

Then, harsh, she speaks, to Wilhelm, at head 

place : 
"Thou, monster Kaiser! Art, now, due, apace, 
* ' To black Oblivion I — there, to pay for sins, 
''And realize that Might 'gainst Right ne'er 

wins! 



238 THE GATES OF JANUS 

^'Tiiy Kingdom is ta'en from thee! People 
rule ! 
'' People! Not Kings, nor Crdwtis, nor King- 
doms, fool ! 
"The German people are, at last, set free 
"From Prussia, HohenzoUern line, — and thee! 



"Both Nemesis and I have heard the call 
"For Retribution dire, on thee, to fall, 
"And we've arranged that thou shalt feel its 

stroke, 
"Where History, its irony, can evoke. 

"As, at Sedan, ye won your last great War; 
"So, at Sedan, ye '11 lose this warfare sore! 
"And, ye '11 lose it, through those ye did despise; 
"America, Sedan, last occupies! 

"And, as, at Mons, ye triumph once attained, 
"O'er the 'Contemptibles,' as ye the English 

named. 
"So, now, at Mons, these same 'Contemptibles' 
* ' Shall win last fight and avenge all their ills ! 

"And, as Sedan lost, then. Napoleon's crown, 
' * And saw Eepublic born, with great renown ; 
" So, at Sedan, thy crown shall pass away, 
"Thy Kingdom turn Republic in a day! 



AN EPIC STORY OF THE WORLD WAR 239 

"But, thou It not be its first famed Presi- 
dent; 

*'Thou wilt not tarry for that great event! 

''A fugitive from justice thou shal't be; 

''Hid, like a coward, from brave men made 
free! 

''And, as Sedan saw occupation base, 
"Of France's land, — while Frenchmen hid their 

face ! — 
"So, now, thou 'It see, — from hiding, — German 

land 
"Held, occupied by foes, as Victors grand! 

"Across the Ehine they'll go, to let thee see 
"That thou'rt defeated,— conquered utterly! 
"There, they'll exact the last great recompense 
' ' That thou must pay, for all thy sins immense ! 

"Alsace-Lorraine they'll take, and, Rhine 

lands fair, 
"Cologne, Mainz, Coblentz, with its stronghold 

rare ; — 
" Aix-la-Chapelle, Bonn, Dusseldorf, so great! 
"They'll strip thee of thy power and vast estate ! 

"The terms, has Foch! Send, now, thy 
couriers fast, 
"Under tvJiite flag, to show thy 'Day' is past! 
"He'll give them thee, or, thy new leaders bold, 
" Thou 'It flee, like coward, soon as terms are told ! 



240 THE GATES OF JANUS 

^'And Charles! Thou Emperor, new, of 

Austria's land I 
''Thy reign's been brief! No longer, shall it 

stand 
''O'er Magyar, Czech, Polish or Jugoslav, — 
*'Nor, shalt 'Italia Irredenta' have! 

' ' Diaz holds terms, to which, thou, now, must 
bow, 
"As well as to what other nations vow. 
"Trieste must go, Fiume, Trentino, 
"And, all Italian lands ta'en long ago! 

"E'en, Austria will not have thee! There 

thou 'It be 
"Repudiated for Republic free! 
"A fugitive also thou 'It wander far, 
"Shunned by all men on whom thou made'st 

foul War I 






Turkey, Bulgaria, too, have heard my word ; 
By many nations they've been rightly 
scourged ! 
"Now Turk must go from Europe's vast con- 
fines 
"And live within some farther Eastern lines. 

"The Allied ships are now in Dardanelles. 
* ' Constantinople 's theirs ! Sophia 's bells 
"Shall ring a Christian, not 'Muezzin' call! 
"The 'Porte' shall be an open one to all! 



AN EPIC STORY OF THE WORLD WAR 241 

' ' The Bulgar, now, is strongly hemmed around 
* ' By nations who will see he keeps his ground, — 
* ' That no more poaching upon weaker lands, 
* ' Is practised by his lawless, butcher bands ! 

**He's risen, too, 'gainst Boris, the new King! 
** Republic, there, its way doth quickly wing! 
** Freedom is in the air! 'Tis people's hour! 
* ' People ! — Ye Rulers ! Not your Kingly power ! 

**Ye are cast out! Ye brought it on your- 
selves ! 
''Ye thought not of the man who digs and 

delves ! 
"Ye scorned him! Now he's risen in his might, 
"And, stands for Liberty and Human Right! 

"Out, all of ye, and let the people rule! — 
"People whom yeVe trained in a bitter school! 
* ' They 're in authority ! Your sentence 's passed ! 
"Democracy has won, against ye massed! 

"And Furies!" — Here, he turned, to where 
they lay, — 
"Ye, now, have had your last, mad, threat 'ning 

day! 
"Like Saul of old, ye'd better on selves fall, 
"For, then, the world would well be rid of all! 
16 



242 THE GATES OF JANUS 

*'Lies! Choke thyself, with thine own false- 
hoods vast ! 

'*Rage; — Rapine! Burn in your own fury's 
blast! 

'*Hate! — ^Lust and Malice! Poison ye your- 
selves, — 

**With all your awful virus, unexpelled! 

''Pride! — Envy! Eat your hearts out with 

desire 
''Towards things ye, vainly, do, with greed, 

aspire ! 
"And Cruelty ! — and Bitterness ! Be ye 
"Tortured to death, by your own butchery! 

"The War Dogs are remade, — ^renamed in- 
deed! 
"They're -Watch Dogs' now! — 'Twas ever in 

the breed! 
"Ye ne'er can be renewed in heart or mind ; — 
"As ye made death, — ^ye are, to death, consigned ! 

"Never again, within the temple dread 
"Of Janus, shall ye War Dogs lash, unfed! 
"Nor Dogs, nor Furies shall e'er, there, again, 
"Threaten with War, united race of men! 



AN EPIC STORY OF THE WORLD WAR 243 

**A 'League of Nations' is, now, being made, 
'* Which from War's wrath will all the nations 
save. 
It's hailed, by all, as far diviner plan! 
Twill be the glory and the pride of man! 



IC 71 



''Peace will indig'nons be to ev'ry land. 
"All men as brothers will united stand. 
"Protection, to weak nations, will be shown. 
"The right, not Might, shall rule, — and Right 
alone ! 

"Thus, shall the world, in fellowship, be 

joined, 
"And newer watchwords for our use be coined. 
" 'Peace/ 'FeUowship' and 'Trust' to all be 

given, 
"Great Freedom's bond, and greater bond of 

Heav'n!" 

She said, and, slowly, passed without the door. 
The Furies wailed, writhed, grovelled on the 

floor. 
The leaders rose, and passed, with halting pace. 
To meet their just deserts, from outraged race! 

Outside, the Watch Dogs barked, with joyous 
note. 
To see War's end, and Freemen bravely cope 
With newer, better plans for ev'ry land: — 
With "League of Nations" formed at men's de- 
mand. 



244 THE GATES OF JANUS 

Within, there came a fearful, dreadful 

sound, — 
As stricken, struggling bodies lash the ground! 
The Furies slay themselves 1 The deed is done ! 
The world resounds with joy! Full Victory's 

won ! 

Clang shut, ye Janian gates! Grim War is 

o'er. 
Peal out ye Peace bells : — ^Peace f orevermore ! 
Link hands and hearts mankind! Let flags be 

furled. 
Humanity hath made of one the world ! 



T*HE End. 



